Staff Reporter:
As the country undergoes important reforms and transitions, the UN stands ready to assist in fostering peace, national dialogue, trust and healing, the organisation’s Secretary General António Guterres has said assuring the Bangladeshi people.
“You can count on the UN to be your steadfast partner, working alongside the people of Bangladesh to help build a sustainable and equitable future for all,” said the UN secretary-general at a joint media briefing with Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain at a city hotel on Saturday.
Before the briefing, he attended dialogues with the Consensus Commission members, political parties, youths and civil society members on the reforms and aspirations of the people of Bangladesh.
Guterres said, “As the country undergoes a significant transition under the leadership of Chief Adviser Yunus, I recognise the people’s hopes for a future of greater democracy, justice, and prosperity.
“This is a pivotal moment for Bangladesh, and the international community must play its part in supporting your efforts toward a just, inclusive, and prosperous future.”
Regarding the Rohingyas, he said, “Ladies and gentlemen, I want to underscore Bangladesh’s extraordinary generosity in responding to the Rohingya crisis. It is a testament to your enduring humanitarian spirit.
“By offering Rohingya refugees sanctuary, Bangladesh has demonstrated solidarity and human dignity, often at significant social, environmental and economic cost. The world must not take this generosity for granted.”
“I will continue to urge the international community to take greater responsibility and provide the necessary financial and political support for both the refugees and their host communities,” he said.
“But as I mentioned yesterday in Cox’s Bazar, we are on the verge of a deep humanitarian crisis,” he said, adding, “With the announced cuts in financial assistance, we are facing the dramatic risk of having only 40% in 2025 of the resources available for humanitarian aid in 2024. This would have terrible consequences, starting with the drastic reduction of food rations.”
“That would be an unmitigated disaster. People will suffer and people will die.”
“I strongly appeal to the international community to allow us to avoid this tragedy,” he continued.
He said, “The United Nations is fully committed to working with Bangladesh and others in finding a lasting solution to the Rohingya crisis that enables their safe, voluntary, dignified, and sustainable return to Myanmar.”
He also said, “I had an extremely moving visit to Cox’s Bazar yesterday. Ramadan reminds us of the universal values that connect humanity: compassion, empathy, and generosity. Bangladesh is a living symbol of these values through your commitment to peace, development, and humanitarian relief.
“Bangladesh is among the largest contributors to United Nations peacekeeping, he said, adding that, “I want to pay tribute to the sacrifices and dedication of Bangladeshi peacekeepers, who serve in some of the most difficult and dangerous environments in the world.”
