August 25, 2025 marked eight years since the Tatmadaw’s brutal military campaign was launched against Rohingya Muslims that killed tens of thousands and displaced over one million. The intent by the Burmese Military Junta to completely eradicate Rohingya Muslims led most countries of the world to designate the scenario as genocide. These atrocities against the Rohingya still continue today, and there is no end in sight to the violence.
Chair Vicky Hartzler of the USCIRF has observed that “today we remember the countless lives that the Burmese military destroyed merely because of their religion. We cannot ignore these appalling crimes against humanity. USCIRF calls for justice and accountability against the Burmese military and government officials who perpetrated these horrific crimes.” These observations in February 2025 on Myanmar highlighted the humanitarian crisis that continues to impact Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and elsewhere. These displaced people face extreme hardships, residing in overcrowded shelters that provide minimal defence against natural disasters. They are at constant risk of illness and malnutrition due to limited access to clean water, sanitation, and medical care. The endemic shortfalls in humanitarian support further expose them to exploitation, human trafficking, and the denial of fundamental rights.
A three-day international conference was recently held in Cox’s Bazar under the heading- “Stakeholders’ Dialogue on the Rohingya Situation”.
It is understood that the delegates who had participated in the meeting in Cox’s Bazar will subsequently try to draw the attention of the world once again towards the grave humanitarian emergency on September 30 during the forthcoming UN General Assembly Session in New York.
The discussion in Cox’s Bazar highlighted declining funding, and Myanmar’s systematic persecution and discriminatory laws such as 1982 Citizenship Law as root causes of the crisis. Panelists cited ongoing human rights violations in Rakhine, including indiscriminate attacks, arson, mass killings, rapes, and forced conscription by both the Myanmar military and the rebel Arakan Army group. Participants also expressed concern over the pressure on Bangladesh, particularly host communities and the environment in Rohingya refugee camps.
They also called for proactive roles from neighbouring countries, ASEAN, the UN, and other partners. Key recommendations included amplifying Rohingya voices, ensuring sustainable repatriation, continuing humanitarian assistance through enhanced donor commitment and equitable burden-sharing, dismantling internal displacement camps in Sittwe and northern Rakhine, and supporting international justice mechanisms including IIMM, ICJ, and ICC.
On the eighth anniversary of the mass atrocities committed against the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar’s Rakhine state, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) reiterated its unwavering support for the Rohingya people and reaffirmed its steadfast commitment to justice, accountability, and the protection of human rights. The OIC also repeated that it fully supports international efforts, including proceedings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), to hold perpetrators of heinous crimes against the Rohingya Muslims accountable. The OIC also underscored the responsibility of all parties involved in the conflict, especially the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army, to ensure the protection of the Rohingya people inside Myanmar in full compliance with the provisional measures ordered by the ICJ.
The OIC also commended Bangladesh and other OIC Member States for their continued generosity in hosting Rohingya refugees and appreciated the support extended by many OIC Member States to this community. The OIC also called upon the international community to sustain its support for vital humanitarian assistance and urged Myanmar to take concrete steps toward ensuring the safe, dignified, voluntary, and sustainable return of the Rohingyas to their homeland in Myanmar. The OIC further restated its call for reinforced international solidarity and coordinated action to address the root causes of this issue and promised to work toward a comprehensive, just, and durable solution on the international stage.
The media has also reported that the World Food Programme has drawn attention to the growing deteriorating situation pertaining to the Rohingya refugee community. The WFP has warned that food assistance for over 1.2 million Rohingyas in Bangladesh will end after November 30 unless urgent funds are secured. WFP Bangladesh Country Director Domenico Scalpelli has pointed out that “we have enough money until November 30. On December 1, the situation will be zero — no food for 1.2 million people. To maintain the minimum ration, we urgently require funds. We need around $173 million for the next 12 months.” he said during a high-level delegation’s visit to Cox’s Bazar Rohingya refugee camps, warning that any further cut from the current $12 per person per month would be devastating. If we drop current support from US Dollar 12 to US Dollar 6, malnutrition rates will rise, and children will die. Already the malnutrition rate is very high.” Scalpelli has appealed to traditional donors as well as Gulf states, ASEAN, and OIC countries for immediate help. Scalpelli has also underscored that “they want to return home, but until safe and voluntary repatriation is possible, they must be able to eat every day.” Absolutely, a correct interpretation of human rights that is consistent with international law.
Bangladesh has registered more than 150,000 new arrivals since early 2024, even as fighting in Rakhine worsens and global funding dries up following United States President Donald Trump’s freeze on humanitarian aid.
Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus has warned that Bangladesh is facing socio-economic problems in providing additional support for the 1.5 million Rohingya refugees it shelters and has called on the international community to work on a roadmap for the voluntary return of the persecuted minority back to their homeland in Myanmar. In this context, speaking in Cox’s Bazar during the Conference he has observed that even after eight years since the mass expulsion of the mostly Muslim minority from Myanmar’s Rakhine state, nothing has been completed about securing the refugees’ safe and voluntary return. Yunus has also appealed to donors to reverse declining funding, stressing that increased support was essential to sustain life-saving aid programmes.
During his address in the meeting he proposed for an immediate end to violence in Myanmar, the creation of dialogue platforms to ease tensions between ethnic groups, and stronger involvement from ASEAN and regional powers to restore stability. Yunus also urged governments worldwide to stand firm against Myanmar’s “heinous crime of ethnic cleansing” and to reconsider their relations with the country’s military regime. He also called for renewed momentum in accountability efforts at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and International Criminal Court (ICC), insisting that justice was central to ending the genocide and ensuring the Rohingya’s safe return.
Nearly 800,000 Rohingya fled to Bangladesh in August 2017 following a brutal military crackdown that the United Nations has described as genocide. Thousands more have arrived since and over the past few years the total refugee figure appears to have crossed 1.2 million.
Seven proposals emerged from the meeting at Cox’s Bazar- (a) Right to Return: Ensure Rohingyas’ speedy, safe, voluntary and sustainable repatriation to Rakhine without delay, (b) Sustained Aid: Donors must fill gaps in the 2025-26 Joint Response Plan and guarantee long-term funding, (c) End Violence: Myanmar authorities and the Arakan Army must stop attacks, ensure Rohingya security, prevent new outflows, and allow IDPs to return home, (d) Dialogue: Establish a platform for inclusive dialogue to reduce tensions, restore rights, and promote reconciliation, (e) Global and Regional Role: ASEAN, neighbours, and the international community must foster peace, stability, and combat cross-border crimes, (f) Oppose Ethnic Cleansing: Stakeholders must stand firmly against ethnic cleansing and calibrate relations with Myanmar and conflict parties and (g) Accountability: Strengthen ICJ and ICC processes, implement ICJ measures, and deliver justice for genocide and crimes against humanity.
The Cox’s Bazar conference came before the UN Conference in New York on September 30, but the prospect of a safe and swift return of the Rohingya remains slim.
It would be worth noting that at the Cox’s Bazar conference, speakers also drew attention to the denotation that China should play a leading role in resolving the Rohingya crisis because of its strong ties with Myanmar and influence in the region. Prof Isharaf Hossain, President of the Muslim World Research Centre in Kuala Lumpur underlined this by pointing out that “China has the capacity, mechanisms, and strong relations with Myanmar and ASEAN. If it leads a coordinated effort with international support, this crisis can get a realistic solution”.
In this context, one needs to refer to observations made by Raouf Mazou, UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Operations. It has been pointed out that humanitarian aid alone cannot resolve the crisis. The safe and dignified voluntary return of the Rohingyas has remained the most desirable solution, and the responsibility to create such conditions lay squarely on Myanmar, he added. He has also that human rights must be respected and “a situation involving over one million displaced persons cannot be left to morph into a regional crisis affecting all countries in the region. ”
In a joint statement issued in Dhaka, the Embassies and High Commissions of Canada, Australia, the UK, Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, Sweden, the Netherlands, France, Italy, and Finland have also echoed the UN’s call. They have observed that Rohingyas in Bangladesh want to return to their homes. “These conditions can only be met by addressing the root causes of their displacement, which requires a peaceful and stable Myanmar.” The envoys also condemned escalating violence and human rights abuses by Myanmar’s military regime and other armed groups, calling for an immediate end to all acts of violence and for unrestricted humanitarian access. They also pledged continued support for the Rohingyas and the Bangladeshi host communities in Cox’s Bazar. The statement further noted that the international community would maintain pressure on Myanmar at upcoming platforms, including the High-Level Conference on the Rohingya crisis in September 2025.
