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Experts have called for stronger, coordinated and sustainable international commitments to support Bangladesh in addressing the protracted Rohingya crisis and ensuring a sustainable future for the refugees.
The call was made on Saturday at “Confluence 2026: A Gathering of Partnership, Appreciation and Commitment,” organized by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) at Hotel Sheraton in Dhaka.
The event marked the ninth anniversary of the mass displacement of Rohingya people from Myanmar to Bangladesh in August 2017. It also recognized the contributions and partnerships of national and international humanitarian organizations supporting the Bangladesh government in responding to the crisis.
Speaking as the chief guest, Foreign Affairs State Minister Humayun Kabir urged the international community to work collectively to create meaningful pressure on Myanmar to ensure the safe, dignified and sustainable return of the Rohingya.
He said other countries should share responsibility with Bangladesh by expanding opportunities for third-country resettlement and other durable solutions for the Rohingya.
“The Rohingya crisis must not be allowed to become a forgotten crisis,” he said.
The state minister said the government, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, has made resolving the Rohingya crisis one of its key foreign policy priorities.
He added that Bangladesh was not seeking to address the crisis through humanitarian assistance alone but remained firmly committed to finding a sustainable and lasting solution.
Hasina Rahman, IRC’s Deputy Regional Director for Asia, said nine years had already passed and that conventional approaches would not be enough to carry the response into its tenth or fifteenth year.
“With funding declining and global attention shifting away from the crisis, we must plan together and prioritize protection and the most vulnerable people,” she said.
Rohingya human rights activist Lucky Karim stressed that the international community must work to establish peace, security and stability in Rakhine State before any repatriation process begins.
She said refugees living in Bangladesh must have access to quality education and sustainable livelihood opportunities until conditions are created for their safe, voluntary and dignified return.
Such opportunities, she added, would also help reduce their dependence on humanitarian assistance.
Two panel discussions were held during the event, bringing together representatives from the Bangladesh government, donor agencies, humanitarian organizations, Rohingya and host communities, and academia to discuss a shared vision for the future of the Rohingya response.
The discussions highlighted the changing humanitarian context and emphasized the importance of sustained international support, stronger protection measures and uninterrupted access to essential services.
Panelists also stressed the need for a long-term and coordinated approach that puts the rights, dignity and aspirations of both Rohingya refugees and host communities at the center of the response.
Among the panelists were Dr. Mohammad Zakaria, Director General (Secretary) of the NGO Affairs Bureau; Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Mohammad Mizanur Rahman; ActionAid Bangladesh Country Director Farah Kabir; Jean Pesme, World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan; Hamma Hossain, a representative of the Australian High Commission in Bangladesh; and the Acting Country Director of IRC Bangladesh.
The discussions were moderated by Sabira Sultana Nupur, IRC’s Regional Advocacy Specialist.
Senior Bangladesh government officials, representatives of diplomatic missions, UN agencies, national and international NGOs, development partners, academics and representatives of Rohingya-led organizations attended the event.
As the Rohingya crisis enters its ninth year, participants emphasized that sustained international engagement, adequate funding and coordinated diplomatic efforts remain essential to finding a durable solution for the displaced Rohingya population and easing the growing burden on Bangladesh.
