DHAKA: Member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) have reaffirmed their support for the Rohingya genocide case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), expressing hope that the legal proceedings will help pave the way for a lasting solution to the prolonged crisis. The commitment was reiterated at a meeting of the OIC Ministerial Ad-Hoc Committee on Accountability for Human Rights Violations Against the Rohingya, held on the sidelines of the 52nd OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) in Baghdad, Iraq, according to a Foreign Ministry press release issued on Sunday.

Addressing the meeting as co-chair, Bangladesh State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir called on OIC member states to strengthen unity and take proactive steps to resolve the longstanding Rohingya crisis. Kobir, who is leading the Bangladesh delegation to the ministerial conference, stressed that justice and accountability through international legal mechanisms are essential to achieving a sustainable solution to the humanitarian crisis.

Describing the Rohingya crisis as a major challenge facing the Muslim Ummah, he urged OIC member states to pursue coordinated efforts to strengthen humanitarian assistance and support ongoing legal proceedings.

He also emphasised the need for sustained international engagement to keep the Rohingya crisis high on the global agenda. The state minister highlighted the five-point action plan presented by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Referring to the plan, Kobir called for urgent and decisive international action, particularly to ensure justice and accountability through established legal frameworks. He urged OIC member states to turn their solidarity with the Rohingya people into concrete initiatives to address the crisis and support efforts towards a durable solution.

At the meeting, OIC member states reiterated their commitment to supporting the case before the ICJ and expressed optimism that the judicial process could contribute to resolving the protracted crisis.

The discussions underscored the importance of collective international efforts to ensure accountability for human rights violations against the Rohingya and advance prospects for a lasting resolution. Bangladesh continues to host approximately 1.4 million Rohingya refugees who fled persecution in Myanmar while pursuing diplomatic efforts to secure their safe, voluntary and sustainable return.

Shibbir Ahmed, New York — The United Nations has strongly condemned an airstrike in Myanmar’s Rakhine State that reportedly killed at least 50 people at a busy market and urged authorities to halt the deportation of Myanmar nationals from Malaysia. According to the UN, forces from Myanmar’s military junta reportedly struck Kyauktaw township around midday Monday, when more than 200 shops were operating. Women and children were among those killed, while at least 58 people were injured, many critically. The death toll is expected to rise.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said the attack raised serious concerns over respect for international humanitarian law. He also highlighted continuing abuses against the Rohingya by both Myanmar’s military and the Arakan Army.

UN urges Malaysia to halt deportations

The airstrike came as Malaysia began implementing a plan to deport some 5,000 Myanmar nationals. Malaysia has said the returns would be voluntary, following an agreement reportedly reached with Myanmar’s military rulers. The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said it had not been involved in identifying those being returned and noted that some of the people were reportedly being held in detention centers.

Mr. Türk called on Malaysia to immediately halt the deportation process, warning that conditions in Myanmar remain “far from safe and sustainable.” UN Secretary-General António Guterres also called for a halt to the reported return of around 1,500 people. UNHCR stressed that no one should be returned to a place where they face a risk of persecution or torture.

UN releases emergency funds for drought-hit Africa

Meanwhile, UN relief chief Tom Fletcher has released millions of dollars from the Central Emergency Response Fund to prepare for the worsening effects of El Niño-driven drought in South Sudan, Zimbabwe and Chad. South Sudan will receive $6 million for early action, including food, health, nutrition, protection, water and sanitation services. More than 10 million people in the country already need humanitarian assistance.

Zimbabwe will receive $4 million for anticipatory measures, while $3.6 million will support 350,000 people in Chad ahead of worsening dry conditions. The funding will also support early warning systems, cash assistance, livestock feed, malnutrition services and disease surveillance.

Israeli fire reported near UN sites in Gaza

In Gaza, the UN humanitarian office, OCHA, said Israeli fire had been reported near UN facilities and humanitarian convoys on several occasions in recent days. No casualties were reported, but the UN stressed that civilians, aid workers and humanitarian operations must be protected. Humanitarian operations have continued, with protection partners providing mental-health support and other services to about 13,000 Palestinians during the third week of September.

Aid agencies also distributed food parcels, adult diapers, assistive devices and hygiene supplies to displaced families. UNRWA said 1,394 Palestinians had been killed since the faltering October 2025 ceasefire, citing local health authorities, while about 94 percent of the population requires shelter assistance.

Settler attacks continue in West Bank

OCHA also reported continuing settler attacks in the occupied West Bank. Several houses were damaged in Jalud, in the Nablus governorate, while a water network serving Palestinians in Tubas was vandalized and vehicles carrying water and produce were seized. OCHA said it has recorded more than 1,600 settler attacks so far this year—an average of 6.7 attacks a day, compared with five a day in 2025. More than 4,300 Palestinians have been displaced.

Shibbir Ahmed, New York— Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today said the only solution to the Rohingya crisis is the safe return of the displaced Rohingya population to their homeland in Myanmar, calling for firm and effective support from the United Nations and the international community for a lasting solution.

“The only solution to this problem is the safe return of the displaced Rohingya population to their homeland, Myanmar,” he said while addressing the General Debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

“For more than nine years, Bangladesh has been providing shelter to more than 1.2 million forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar,” the Prime Minister said. He said the prolonged presence of the Rohingyas had placed immense pressure on Bangladesh’s resources, environment, security and local communities.

“Bangladesh, a densely populated country, believes that the source and origin of the Rohingya crisis lie in Myanmar; therefore, its solution also lies there,” he said. Tarique Rahman urged the United Nations and the international community to continue life-saving assistance programmes for the displaced Rohingyas until their repatriation to Myanmar.

“If the international community fails to ensure justice for the displaced Rohingya population, this may turn into a humanitarian crisis in the near future,” he warned.

Call for peaceful resolution of conflicts

The Prime Minister also called for stronger international efforts to address major global humanitarian and political challenges, saying human-made conflicts had created unrest in many countries and displaced large numbers of people. He said wars and conflicts were placing severe pressure on the global economy, while energy security crises, disruptions to global energy supply systems and rising inflation were worsening the economic situation.

“We believe that any conflict should be resolved through dialogue, diplomatic processes and mutual cooperation,” he said. Tarique Rahman said equality, fairness, protection of mutual interests, respect and dignity should form the basis of bilateral and multilateral relations among states.

“We aspire to a peaceful world, a humane global community where, rather than lethal weapons, reason and debate, diplomacy, education and humanity become the instruments of change,” he said.

Support for Palestine

Turning to the Palestine issue, the Prime Minister said the people of Bangladesh, who cherish democracy, were deeply concerned about the suffering of the Palestinian people.

“Bangladesh reaffirms its unwavering support for their legitimate demands, including their right to self-determination and their right to establish an independent State of Palestine,” he said.

Migration and international cooperation

On migration, Tarique Rahman said migration was as old as human civilisation and migrants were making important contributions to the economies of both their countries of origin and destination. He said the Bangladesh government was committed to ensuring regular, safe and orderly migration.

“Bangladesh expects stronger global cooperation to ensure the rights, dignity and welfare of migrants,” the Prime Minister said. Tarique Rahman also reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to multilateralism in maintaining international peace and security, saying the United Nations should remain at the centre of efforts to establish an understanding-based global community that respects the independence and sovereignty of states.

He said the tendency in various countries to divert development budgets towards military expenditure was an obstacle to world peace.

“As a peace-loving nation, Bangladesh remains committed to the goal of complete and general disarmament, preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons and arms control,” he said. The Prime Minister reaffirmed Bangladesh’s support for UN initiatives aimed at promoting global peace and humanity.

Climate change

On climate change, Tarique Rahman said Bangladesh was one of the countries most vulnerable to its adverse impacts despite making little contribution to global carbon emissions.

“In these circumstances, Bangladesh has chosen the path of building resilience to withstand and overcome these risks,” he said. The Prime Minister called for stronger global action at COP31 on climate justice, climate finance and adaptation support. He said Bangladesh had strengthened its programmes to protect the environment and build resilience against climate risks.

The government had launched a programme to plant 250 million trees across the country over the next five years, while placing emphasis on clean and solar energy, he said. Tarique Rahman also said Bangladesh had launched a programme to excavate 20,000 kilometres of canals across the country to help address flooding and drought.

He stressed the importance of cooperation in transboundary water management while reaffirming Bangladesh’s commitment to water conservation and pollution prevention. The Prime Minister concluded by reiterating Bangladesh’s unwavering support for the principles and values of the United Nations in the cause of establishing world peace.

Shibbir Ahmed, New York — Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called on the international community to extend stronger support for the dignified repatriation of Rohingyas to their homeland in Myanmar and help find a sustainable solution to the prolonged crisis.

The prime minister made the appeal on Tuesday when Julie Bishop, Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General on Myanmar, paid a courtesy call on him in New York, where he is attending the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

During the meeting, Tarique Rahman stressed the importance of continued international cooperation to facilitate the safe and dignified return of Rohingyas and resolve the crisis, according to PM’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman.

The two sides also discussed the role of the international community in addressing the Rohingya crisis, including efforts to create conditions conducive to their eventual return to Myanmar.

The meeting comes ahead of a high-level Rohingya crisis side event scheduled for Wednesday at UN Headquarters, co-hosted by Bangladesh and The Gambia. The event will focus on finding a durable solution to the protracted displacement, along with justice and accountability.

Bangladesh has consistently called for the safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable return of Rohingyas to Myanmar, where the crisis originated. The country is currently hosting about 1.2 million Rohingya refugees, placing significant humanitarian, economic and environmental pressure on Bangladesh. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on September 24.

Shibbir Ahmed, New York — Russia is deepening its involvement in Myanmar’s long-delayed Dawei deep-sea port and special economic zone project, as the two countries seek to revive the strategic development in the country’s southern Tanintharyi Region.

The Dawei project, which includes a deep-sea port, industrial zone and major energy facilities, has returned to the center of Myanmar-Russia economic cooperation after years of delays over financing and implementation.

During a meeting in Vladivostok on September 1, Myanmar Vice President U Nyo Saw and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Trutnev discussed the Dawei project along with energy, trade and tourism cooperation. No new financing agreement, project value or construction timetable was announced following the meeting.

Russia’s interest in Dawei has become more concrete in recent months. In June, Myanmar’s Launglon Economic Development Company and Russia’s state-controlled Inter RAO signed a memorandum of understanding for a power plant linked to the Dawei deep-sea port project.

At a Russia-Myanmar business forum in Moscow in August, Russian Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov said Moscow was seeking majority stakes for Russian companies investing in projects within the Dawei special economic zone during the investment payback period. The planned development includes a deep-water port, a 660-megawatt power plant, an oil refinery and industrial and warehouse facilities.

Strategic location

Dawei is located on Myanmar’s Andaman Sea coast in Tanintharyi Region. Supporters of the project say its location could provide an alternative trade route between the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia, potentially reducing dependence on the Strait of Malacca.

Myanmar officials have promoted the project as a potential gateway linking the Indian Ocean with Thailand and other parts of the region. The proposed transport connections could eventually link Dawei with Thailand’s eastern economic areas and the wider Southern Economic Corridor.

The project was originally developed with Thai participation but stalled after difficulties securing financing and implementing the required infrastructure. Myanmar’s official port authority records show that the earlier agreement with Italian-Thai Development was terminated after the developer failed to secure the required funding.

Military campaign around project area

The renewed push to revive Dawei has coincided with an intensified military campaign in areas surrounding the proposed development. Reuters reported in August that Myanmar’s military had deployed hundreds of troops to clear areas designated for the Russia-backed Dawei special economic zone. The operation involved fighting with local resistance groups and the displacement of civilians.

Human rights organization Fortify Rights separately reported allegations of killings, torture and forced displacement during military operations around the project area. The organization said the operations were taking place against the backdrop of accelerating Myanmar-Russia cooperation over Dawei.

Despite renewed political support from Moscow and Naypyidaw, major questions remain over financing, security and the feasibility of completing the multibillion-dollar project amid Myanmar’s continuing conflict.

If successfully revived, Dawei could become one of the most strategically significant infrastructure projects on Myanmar’s Andaman Sea coast, with potential implications for trade routes connecting Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean.

Editorial:

Bangladesh’s Rohingya crisis is no longer simply a humanitarian emergency. After years of hosting a large displaced population, the crisis has increasingly become intertwined with national security, border management, economic pressure, environmental degradation and regional stability.

Bangladesh has demonstrated remarkable humanitarian responsibility by providing shelter and assistance to Rohingya refugees fleeing violence in Myanmar. But humanitarian assistance, however essential, cannot be a permanent solution. The longer the crisis continues, the greater the burden becomes for Bangladesh—and the greater the risks become for the refugees themselves.

The fundamental question is therefore becoming increasingly difficult to avoid: How long can Bangladesh continue to manage the crisis without a credible pathway to resolving it?

Food, healthcare, education and shelter remain essential for the Rohingya population. International humanitarian assistance must continue. But relief programmes address the consequences of displacement, not its root causes.

The central issue remains unchanged: why are the Rohingya unable to return safely to their homeland, and what must be done to create the conditions for a voluntary, safe and dignified return?That is where diplomacy must take centre stage.

A humanitarian crisis with security implications 

The prolonged presence of large refugee communities has placed significant pressure on Bangladesh, particularly in Cox’s Bazar and surrounding areas. Local infrastructure, public services, the environment and economic opportunities have all faced additional pressure.

There is also a growing security dimension. Concerns over organised crime, human trafficking, narcotics networks, illegal arms flows and the activities of armed groups in and around refugee camps cannot be ignored. At the same time, it is important not to stigmatise the Rohingya population as a whole. The overwhelming majority are victims of displacement who want security, basic rights and the opportunity to return home.

The challenge for Bangladesh is to protect the refugee population while preventing criminal and armed networks from exploiting the vulnerability created by prolonged displacement. This requires stronger law enforcement, intelligence cooperation, border surveillance and action against trafficking and organised crime. But security measures must also remain consistent with humanitarian principles. Ordinary refugees should not become victims of collective suspicion or punishment.

Myanmar remains at the centre of the problem

Ultimately, the Rohingya crisis cannot be permanently resolved inside Bangladesh because the root of the displacement lies in Myanmar. The continuing instability in Myanmar, particularly in Rakhine State, makes the prospect of safe and sustainable repatriation increasingly complicated. If conditions inside Rakhine do not allow refugees to return with adequate security and basic rights, simply sending people back would not constitute a genuine solution.

Unsafe repatriation is not a solution; it risks creating another cycle of displacement. For that reason, Bangladesh must continue to insist that any repatriation process be voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable. The international community also has a responsibility that goes beyond humanitarian fundraising.

From aid diplomacy to solution-oriented diplomacy

For years, international attention has focused heavily on humanitarian assistance. That support has been indispensable. But the international response cannot remain confined to raising funds to sustain refugee camps indefinitely. The objective must now be to build a credible international framework for a lasting political solution.

Bangladesh should intensify diplomatic engagement with the United Nations, regional organisations and countries capable of exercising political and economic influence over Myanmar. The major powers and regional actors must be encouraged to play a more active role in creating conditions for safe and sustainable repatriation.

Diplomatic discussions should move beyond general expressions of concern. There must be greater focus on practical questions: security guarantees, citizenship and legal rights, freedom of movement, access to essential services, property and livelihood rights, and international monitoring of the repatriation process. Without addressing these issues, repatriation risks becoming a numbers exercise rather than a durable solution.

Bangladesh cannot carry the burden indefinitely

Bangladesh has already carried a substantial humanitarian and economic burden. International support for refugees must therefore continue, but the burden on host communities must also receive greater attention. The people of Cox’s Bazar and surrounding areas should not feel that they have been forgotten while international attention remains focused exclusively on the refugee population.

Development assistance should therefore address both refugees and host communities. Infrastructure, healthcare, education, employment opportunities and environmental protection require sustained investment. This is not about placing refugees and local residents against each other. It is about recognising that long-term stability depends on supporting both communities.

The next generation is at stake

Perhaps the most serious long-term concern is the future of Rohingya children and young people. A generation is growing up in an environment defined by displacement and uncertainty. Without adequate education, skills and hope for a better future, prolonged marginalisation can create frustration and vulnerability to exploitation by criminal or armed groups.

Education and skills development must therefore remain central to the humanitarian response. Providing young Rohingya with opportunities is not simply an act of charity; it is also an investment in regional stability.

At the same time, Bangladesh must strengthen the security and governance of the camps without turning them into permanent detention-like environments. Humanitarian protection and security are not mutually exclusive. In fact, effective humanitarian management can itself reduce security risks.

Bangladesh needs a stronger diplomatic strategy

Bangladesh now needs to move beyond crisis management towards a more comprehensive diplomatic strategy. The country should pursue three objectives simultaneously: protecting the humanitarian rights of the Rohingya, safeguarding Bangladesh’s national security, and creating sustained international pressure for safe and dignified repatriation.

These objectives should not be treated as competing priorities. They are interconnected parts of the same solution. Bangladesh should also ensure that the Rohingya issue remains on the international agenda. Global attention tends to shift as new conflicts and crises emerge. But the absence of headlines does not mean the crisis has disappeared.

Diplomatic engagement must therefore be continuous, coordinated and evidence-based. Bangladesh has a strong moral and legal argument for seeking international support. But moral appeals alone are not enough. Dhaka needs a clear strategy, measurable diplomatic objectives and stronger coordination with countries that have influence over Myanmar.

Relief must continue—but it cannot be the destination

The international community should not mistake the relative stability of the refugee camps for resolution of the crisis. A camp can provide temporary shelter. It cannot replace a homeland. Humanitarian assistance can save lives. It cannot resolve statelessness. International funding can sustain basic services. It cannot guarantee a political settlement. That is why the international response must evolve from relief diplomacy to solution-oriented diplomacy.

Bangladesh should continue providing humanitarian protection, but it should also make clear that the country cannot be expected to carry the consequences of a crisis it did not create indefinitely. The Rohingya crisis has reached a point where humanitarian responsibility and national security must be addressed together. Ignoring either dimension would be a mistake.

Bangladesh needs stronger border security, better camp management and tougher action against criminal networks. But it also needs sustained international diplomacy aimed at changing the conditions that made mass displacement possible in the first place.

The ultimate solution lies not in making refugee camps more permanent, but in making return possible. The Rohingya crisis will not be solved by relief alone. It will be solved when diplomacy produces the conditions for a safe, voluntary and dignified return.

For Bangladesh, the message should now be clear: aid must continue, but the goal must be a solution. The Rohingya crisis cannot remain a permanent humanitarian burden when what is urgently needed is a lasting political and diplomatic settlement.

DHAKA: State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam has said the government is committed to protecting human rights and ensuring that no citizen is detained or imprisoned unjustly because of political affiliation or vendetta.

“The government will definitely ensure that no one is unjustly imprisoned or detained due to political vendetta,” she told journalists at the foreign ministry on Wednesday.

Shama said the government’s commitment to due process and fundamental rights extends to supporters of all political parties, including opposition parties and the Awami League, whose activities are currently banned.

“No party, be it the opposition party, Awami League, or any party, the current government will definitely ensure that no one is unjustly imprisoned or detained due to political vendetta,” she said.

The State Minister alleged that Bangladesh had experienced widespread human rights violations over the past 17 years, saying BNP leaders and activists were among the major victims.

“The kind of human rights that have been violated in Bangladesh in the last 17 years has never been violated in the history of Bangladesh,” she said.

“The biggest victim is the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, its leaders and activists,” she added.

Shama said the government would not allow a return to what she described as the country’s previous “fascist era” and would work to protect the fundamental rights of every citizen.

“We will never want the past fascist era to return now or in the future. We want all human rights to be ensured to every citizen,” she said.

She said the government has a responsibility to protect citizens’ rights and ensure that the justice system is not used for political revenge.

“Our government’s stand is that we are trying to protect human rights. We are responsible to the people,” she said.

Bangladesh policy guides foreign relations

Turning to foreign policy, Shama said Bangladesh’s approach is focused on protecting national interests while maintaining balanced and respectful relations with all countries.

“Our foreign policy is first and foremost a ‘Bangladesh policy’… with equal rights with everyone and maintaining our own interests with respect,” she said.

She said the elected government’s political mandate had strengthened Bangladesh’s position in negotiations with international partners.

“When Bangladesh is talking, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh is talking, then all the other stakeholders including China are listening to our words with more attention, more seriously,” she said.

“Now that Bangladesh is an elected government, we have a stronger position in our negotiation space,” she added.

Rohingya crisis requires political solution

On the Rohingya crisis, Shama said Bangladesh would use its strengthened diplomatic position to encourage greater international engagement and push for a lasting political solution.

“The matter is absolutely a political problem, it is a very sensitive matter and we need to solve this problem politically,” she said.

She said Bangladesh remains engaged in both official and unofficial communication with various stakeholders in Myanmar as part of efforts to resolve the crisis.

“We are trying to involve the international community more,” she said, referring to a high-level UN session on the Rohingya crisis scheduled for September, which Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is expected to attend.

Bangladesh will also explore whether greater involvement from the Muslim world could help increase pressure on Myanmar and create momentum towards a solution, she said.

According to Shama, the crisis has become increasingly complex since the massive influx of Rohingyas into Bangladesh began in 2017, particularly because of Myanmar’s changing political and security landscape.

She pointed to the emergence of the Arakan Army and other actors in Rakhine State, as well as growing security concerns along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, including human smuggling and drug trafficking.

Shama said it was difficult to determine the exact number of Rohingyas currently living in Bangladesh because of continued arrivals and births in the camps.

“We don’t know the exact number right now, but it will definitely be over 1.3 million,” she said, adding that an estimated 30,000 children are born in the camps each year.

She said Chinese President Xi Jinping had expressed Beijing’s willingness to cooperate with Bangladesh in finding a solution to the Rohingya crisis during Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s recent visit to China.

Shama also questioned the effectiveness of existing arrangements for resolving the crisis without stronger involvement from the United Nations and other major international stakeholders.

She said Bangladesh could gain additional diplomatic leverage from Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman’s upcoming role as President of the UN General Assembly.

“From that place, we have a power to speak for Bangladesh in the international community. We think that at least in the next year, we will be able to use this capacity a little better,” she said.

Shama reiterated that Bangladesh would continue to pursue a “Bangladesh policy” in its international relations, protecting national interests while maintaining ties with other countries on the basis of equality and mutual respect.