A landmark international conference on the Rohingya issue will take place at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Sept 30, yet no representatives from the refugee community have been invited.
The exclusion has drawn criticism from Rohingya refugees living in camps in Bangladesh, who say a conference about their future without their presence is both “disappointing and symbolic of their ongoing marginalisation”.
“They’re organising a global conference on us, without us. It feels like a play without a lead,” said Rohingya community leader Syed Ullah, speaking to bdnews24.com from Cox’s Bazar.
When asked about the absence of any Rohingya participation, Abu Saleh Mohammad Obaidullah, additional secretary of the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner’s Office, said: “This is a matter for the highest levels of government. We only implement decisions.”
In the camps of Cox’s Bazar, refugees held a mass rally three days before the summit to project their own message to the world.
On Saturday morning, thousands gathered at a football field in Camp No. 13 of Palongkhali Union under the banner “Our Future, Our Voice – Message Ahead of the UN Conference on Rohingya”.
Participants came from multiple camps across Ukhiya to demand justice and safe repatriation.
Speakers at the rally said despite repeated promises over the past eight years, the international community has “failed” to deliver any tangible progress.
Refugees remain dependent solely on humanitarian aid, which they stressed is “unsustainable”.
Community leader Syed said: “We do not want to hear promises anymore. What we truly want is the chance to return home with strong guarantees of safety. We want citizenship rights in Myanmar, the right to live with dignity.”
Young activist Kin Mong said, “Our generation is being deprived of education and jobs. If a solution does not come quickly, this crisis will only worsen. The conference must deliver effective decisions.”
Rights activist Mohammad Forkan added: “We want the summit to produce a practical roadmap. Not just words, but a timeline for real action. Without it, this humanitarian catastrophe will only drag on.”
In his address to the UN General Assembly on Friday, Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus said Bangladesh is always ready to support any joint effort by the international community to restore stability in Rakhine.
He underscored that the special UN conference should forge a firm global commitment and ensure meaningful international support for the Rohingya, with fundraising placed at the highest priority.
As part of preparations, the foreign ministry and the Office of the High Representative jointly hosted a stakeholder dialogue in Cox’s Bazar from Aug 24 to 26 with delegates from several countries.
