Yunus Unveils 7-Point Roadmap for Rohingya Repatriation at Cox’s Bazar Dialogue

Cox’s Bazar, August 25, 2025 – Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus presented a seven-point proposal aimed at ensuring the speedy, safe, dignified, voluntary, and sustainable repatriation of Rohingyas to their homeland in Myanmar’s Rakhine State. Speaking as the chief guest at a stakeholders’ dialogue in Cox’s Bazar, Yunus emphasized the urgency of action, stating, “We must not be held hostage to mere rhetoric; the time for action is now.”

The dialogue, held on the occasion of the eighth “Rohingya Genocide Remembrance Day,” included a one-minute silence and the screening of a documentary on the Rohingya crisis. Yunus underscored that the responsibility to address the crisis lies not only with Bangladesh but also with the international community, urging global stakeholders to share the burden and actively contribute to solutions. Highlighting the Rohingyas’ desire to return home, Yunus recalled joining UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and over 100,000 Rohingyas for an Iftar in Cox’s Bazar during Ramadan 2025. He reiterated the need to keep the Rohingya issue on the global agenda until a sustainable resolution is achieved. The seven-point roadmap includes: 1. **Right to Return**: Ensuring speedy, safe, voluntary, and sustainable repatriation to Rakhine. 2. **Sustained Aid**: Securing long-term funding for the 2025–26 Joint Response Plan. 3. **End Violence**: Halting attacks by Myanmar authorities and the Arakan Army, ensuring Rohingya safety. 4. **Dialogue**: Establishing a platform for inclusive dialogue to promote reconciliation. 5. **Global and Regional Role**: Engaging ASEAN, neighboring countries, and the international community to foster peace and combat cross-border crimes. 6. **Oppose Ethnic Cleansing**: Taking a firm stand against ethnic cleansing and calibrating relations with Myanmar. 7. **Accountability**: Strengthening ICJ and ICC processes to deliver justice for genocide and crimes against humanity. Yunus stressed that the crisis originated in Myanmar and its solution lies there, calling for all parties to act with resolve. He noted Bangladesh’s humanitarian gesture in 2017, when it opened its borders to nearly 800,000 Rohingyas fleeing persecution, despite resource constraints. Today, Bangladesh hosts 1.3 million Rohingyas, with 32,000 babies born annually in the camps, while only 500,000 remain in Myanmar due to ongoing persecution. The dialogue also featured remarks from Khalilur Rahman, High Representative for the Rohingya Issue, who called for concrete international action, and other dignitaries, including Adviser for Disaster Management Faruk E Azam, Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam, and UNHCR’s Raouf Mazou. Yunus expressed gratitude to the host community in Cox’s Bazar and global partners for their support, emphasizing that continued assistance is critical until the Rohingyas can return home.