Bangladesh seeks stronger Muslim world backing on Rohingya crisis

DHAKA, Bangladesh (MNTV) — Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday called for stronger support from Muslim-majority countries to help resolve the Rohingya crisis, urging members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to play a more active role in addressing one of the world’s largest refugee emergencies.

The appeal came during a meeting in Dhaka between the Bangladeshi prime minister and ambassadors and high commissioners from OIC member states, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Press Wing.

Bangladesh hosts more than one million Rohingya refugees, most of whom fled military operations in neighboring Myanmar beginning in 2017. International rights groups and United Nations investigators have described the crackdown against the Muslim minority as ethnic cleansing, while refugee camps in southeastern Bangladesh continue to face overcrowding, aid shortages and growing security concerns.

During the meeting, Tarique Rahman stressed the need for greater cooperation from the Muslim world in finding a durable solution to the crisis, including ensuring safe and dignified repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar.

Diplomats from several OIC countries congratulated Rahman on assuming office and reaffirmed support for Bangladesh on bilateral and international issues, the statement said. Discussions also covered cooperation in trade, investment, healthcare, education, textiles and pharmaceuticals.

Rahman thanked OIC member states for their continued support and recalled what he described as longstanding brotherly ties between Bangladesh and the Muslim world dating back to the tenure of former President Ziaur Rahman.

He also emphasized the importance of strengthening people-to-people connections among Muslim-majority countries.

The meeting was attended by envoys from Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Palestine, Pakistan, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and several other OIC member nations.

The Rohingya crisis has remained a major challenge for Bangladesh, with humanitarian agencies repeatedly warning of declining international funding for refugee support programs and deteriorating living conditions inside camps.