United News of Bangladesh

The government has approved a proposal to procure education services through UNICEF to improve pre-primary and primary education for forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals (Rohingyas) living in Cox’s Bazar and Bandarban districts, as well as Bhasan Char in Noakhali. The approved proposal involves an expenditure of Tk 203.87 crore, which will be implemented with funding from the government (GoB) and a World Bank grant. The approval was given at a meeting of the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase held at the Secretariat on Tuesday. Env Adviser Rizwana, Unicef stress youth role in climate action The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education placed the proposal before the committee. The service procurement will be carried out under the SD-4 package of the project titled “ISO Component-One: Pre-Primary and Primary Education Improvement Project in Cox’s Bazar and Bandarban Districts and Bhasan Char of Noakhali.” According to meeting sources, the initiative under Component-1 of the project aims to engage forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals in productive activities and help them acquire skills in their mother tongue through structured education services. To this end, UNICEF was invited under a single-source procurement method to submit a proposal for implementing the education programme. Following the submission, the proposal was jointly reviewed, evaluated and negotiated by the Directorate of Primary Education (DPE) and the World Bank’s education team. After completion of the negotiation process, a proposal was placed seeking approval to award the package to UNICEF at a cost of USD 18.45 million, equivalent to Tk 203.87 crore, based on the Development Project Proforma (DPP) exchange rate of Tk 110.502 per US dollar. The committee subsequently approved the proposal. The project was earlier approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) on May 28, 2024. Its implementation period has been fixed from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2027. Under the agreement, the World Bank will directly disburse the entire USD 18.45 million (Tk 203.87 crore) to UNICEF in US dollars. UNICEF welcomes Bangladesh’s decision  to establish separate children’s courts  Sources noted that while the approved DPP initially stipulated implementation through open tendering, the decision to engage UNICEF was taken in line with the conditions of the World Bank’s grant and loan agreements. Under the package, a total of 256,490 Rohingya students will receive education support in the Myanmar language. To deliver the programme, 4,106 volunteer teachers will be recruited during the first 12 months, followed by an additional 3,700 volunteers over the subsequent six months. The recruited teachers will receive honorariums at rates determined under the project framework.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has said it continues to work closely with sector partners to scale up assistance and address urgent and evolving needs, stressing that fire risks remain high in the Rohingya camps. While immediate assistance continues, the latest incident underscores the persistent fire risks facing refugee communities in Cox’s Bazar, which hosts more than one million Rohingya refugees, it said. The fire risks remain high, particularly during the dry season, due to the dense layout of the camps and the use of highly flammable materials in temporary shelters, IOM said. It launched an emergency response following a large fire in a Rohingya refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar early Tuesday morning. Read more: Canada reaffirms commitment to dignity and justice for Rohingya Relief efforts are being carried out in close coordination with the Government of Bangladesh and humanitarian partners to ensure timely and appropriate assistance to affected families. “When fires strike in overcrowded camp settings, the impact extends far beyond damaged infrastructure,” said Lance Bonneau, IOM Chief of Mission in Bangladesh. “Families lose shelter, essential belongings, and access to basic services, increasing immediate protection risks. Our response is guided by a clear responsibility to protect lives, uphold dignity and ensure that those affected receive assistance quickly and safely, so families can begin to regain a sense of normalcy.” The fire affected more than 2,000 refugees, causing extensive damage to shelters and camp-based facilities. No fatalities or major injuries have been reported.  More than 400 shelters were damaged and camp infrastructure was severely impacted, including over 160 water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities such as water points and latrines, as well as 11 learning centres and two mosques. Beyond the destruction of shelters, the fire also destabilized the hillside terrain on which much of the camp is constructed, damaging drainage networks and public infrastructure, and increasing risks related to access and erosion. After the fire was contained, IOM deployed health teams and ambulances to support those with minor injuries and worked with partners to rapidly assess damage and immediate needs. Building on these assessments, IOM and its partners rapidly deployed specialized teams in shelter, WASH, and protection to support affected families. Within 24 hours of the incident, IOM’s camp management team, together with refugee volunteers, cleared debris from the fire-affected areas to restore safe access for emergency assistance and essential services. Over 49.5 lakh Bangladeshis internally displaced by natural disasters: IOM In coordination with the World Food Programme (WFP), emergency food assistance was provided, while affected households received emergency shelter assistance, blankets, floor mats, mosquito nets, and portable solar lights. Following previous devastating fires, including the March 2021 incident that displaced 45,000 people, IOM and humanitarian partners have continued to strengthen refugee-led emergency preparedness and response mechanisms to enable faster, safer, and more effective action when hazards occur.

Canada has said it remains steadfast in its support for efforts to advance accountability, dignity and justice for the Rohingya. Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Ajit Singh met three Rohingya survivors who will be travelling to The Hague to testify in the upcoming International Court of Justice (ICJ) hearings in the landmark genocide case brought by The Gambia against Myanmar for atrocities committed against the Rohingya. The discussion focused on the long-standing persecution and violence faced by the Rohingya in Myanmar, their ongoing struggle for rights and justice, and the importance of international accountability, said the High Commission on Monday. UN court begins hearings on ‘genocide’ of Rohingya by Myanmar The Rohingya representatives expressed their appreciation for Canada’s support, including support to ensure Rohingya victims voices are heard in the landmark ICJ case. The High Commissioner acknowledged their courage in testifying and reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to human rights, accountability and international justice. Bangladesh is currently hosting over 1.3 million Rohingya in Cox’s Bazar camps and Bhasan Char.

The United Nations’ top court on Monday began hearings on whether Myanmar committed genocide against the Rohingya ethnic minority, a case first brought by Gambia in 2019. Gambia filed the case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing Myanmar’s military of violating the 1948 Genocide Convention during its so-called “clearance operations” in Rakhine state in 2017. Myanmar has consistently denied the allegations. Lawyer Paul S. Reichler, representing Gambia at a preliminary hearing in 2022, warned that without ICJ oversight, Myanmar’s military “will be accountable to no one” and could continue persecuting the Rohingya. Read more: Concerned about Rohingya children growing up as angry young people: Prof Yunus The 2017 military campaign followed an attack by a Rohingya insurgent group. Security forces were accused of mass killings, sexual violence, and burning thousands of homes, forcing more than 700,000 Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh. Today, around 1.2 million Rohingya remain in overcrowded camps, where children face recruitment by armed groups and girls as young as 12 are subjected to sexual exploitation. Severe cuts in international aid last year further worsened the humanitarian situation. Rohingya activist Lucky Karim of Refugee Women for Peace and Justice said the ICJ hearings offer “a beacon of hope” that justice for the persecuted minority will not go unheard. Myanmar was initially represented at the court by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who denied genocide allegations and attributed the Rohingya exodus to clashes with insurgents. She is now imprisoned following the military takeover and convictions widely seen as politically motivated. Myanmar challenged the ICJ’s jurisdiction, arguing that Gambia was not directly involved in the conflict. In 2022, the court rejected the claim, allowing the case to proceed. Experts say the outcome could set a precedent for other genocide cases, including a South African case against Israel. Juliette McIntyre, an international law specialist at the University of South Australia, said while the legal standard for genocide is strict, the ICJ might broaden its interpretation, validating victims’ experiences and supporting further legal action. Read more: Dhaka, Washington discuss upcoming elections, economic, Rohingya issues A ruling of genocide could also strengthen proceedings at the International Criminal Court, which in 2024 requested an arrest warrant for Myanmar’s military chief, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, over crimes against the Rohingya—a request that remains pending.

The Uttara Regional Passport Office is facing renewed scrutiny after an investigation found what appears to be an entrenched network of brokers, questionable processing practices and allegations of unauthorised facilitation of passports for Rohingya nationals. A week-long observation by journalists, conducted partly through covert visits, found more than 50 stationery and printing shops around the office operating as de facto broker hubs. Applicants attempting to navigate the process independently frequently reported harassment, opaque requirements and last-minute document demands. Sabbir Ahmed, a resident of Uttara, left the office visibly frustrated. He told UNB he was unexpectedly asked to provide a marriage certificate. Minutes later, a broker escorted him to a nearby shop where documents were printed immediately — a service that several shop operators openly marketed. “Everything can be arranged with money,” said Hridoy, who runs one such shop. “If someone does not have the right papers, we make arrangements. Even passports without national IDs are possible — they just cost more,” he said. Read more: E-passport booklets procurement gets CCGP nod The officials concerned, however, strongly denied what residents, applicants and industry insiders say reflect a systemic problem. Costs Balloon Through Informal Channels While the government’s official fee for a 10-year, 48-page passport is Tk 5,750, brokers typically charge Tk 6,200–6,500 for routine cases. More complex cases, including those requiring forged or recreated documents, can rise to Tk 10,000 and in some instances exceed Tk 100,000, according to brokers interviewed. Brokers claimed that 250–300 out of the 400–500 daily applications at the Uttara office come through their networks, generating an estimated Tk 1 crore in unaccounted monthly payments shared through multiple layers of staff. But it could not independently verify the total amount allegedly involved. Sensitive Allegations Over Rohingya Passport Processing The most sensitive allegation relates to the unauthorised facilitation of passports for Rohingya nationals using fake or manipulated documents, a recurring challenge for Bangladesh’s security and identity-management agencies. Roni, a gazetted July Warrior who previously worked in the area’s stationery sector, said the practice escalated after the fall of the former government, when oversight weakened. Read more: Human trafficking, instability erode global trust in Bangladesh’s passports Earlier, in February 2024, the Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police arrested 23 members of what it described as the largest syndicate directly involved in producing Rohingya passports. At the time, the DB said brokers operating inside passport offices and some Ansar members were directly linked to the racket. According to investigators, brokers at stationery shops near passport offices could arrange fake birth certificates within six hours and fake NIDs within three days. In this way, thousands of fake Rohingya passports have been produced over the years. Explaining how fake NIDs are made, Jahid, an employee of a stationery shop near the Uttara Passport Office, said, “Documents are collected in the names of people from villages or slum areas who have virtually no chance of obtaining passports. Rohingya passports are then issued using those identities. The name and NID number remain the same—the person changes.” Stating that the process is still ongoing, Roni said a syndicate operating in the Badda and Uttara areas remains secretly involved in producing Rohingya passports at the Uttara Regional Passport Office. Although the group lay low for several months, they have once again become active at regional passport offices in Dhaka. Read more: Govt plans to lower passport costs for overseas Bangladeshis He alleged that certain employees at the Uttara office were acting as intermediaries, receiving files and payments through WhatsApp channels. He named the Deputy Director, Muhammed Nurul Huda, as being aware of these activities, a claim the DD has categorically rejected. Shortly after talking to journalists, Roni was reportedly summoned to the office, where he says he was pressured into delivering a filmed apology. Since the large-scale influx of Rohingyas into Bangladesh in 2017, senior officials said, attempts to obtain Bangladeshi passports using forged national identity cards and birth certificates have surged. The trend began in Chattogram and its neighbouring districts but has gradually spread to Dhaka and surrounding areas. Authorities say the rising forgeries reflect both the growing desperation among Rohingyas and the expanding networks of brokers facilitating these illegal activities. Read more: Getting e-passport without police verification in Bangladesh: Documents, fees, and online application process According to Saudi government estimates, roughly 69,000 Rohingyas are currently counted among Bangladeshi expatriates in the Kingdom, intensifying pressure on Bangladesh over passport renewals. Complaints of Applicants From Outside Dhaka Several applicants from outside the capital said their forms were rejected for ‘native district’ reasons — comments later reversed when they went through brokers. Antara from Kushtia said her application was initially cancelled but approved after she paid Tk 1,500 to a broker. Ipshita from Cox’s Bazar said the extra fee for her case was Tk 3,000. “Because I am from Cox’s Bazar, the rate was higher,” she said. A broker, who spoke seeking anonymity, said, “Rohingya files cost more. And the office knows which files are problematic.” Money Trail Allegations and Staff Responses Several brokers told UNB that payments are typically collected after office hours, mostly through informal channels. A former employee alleged that specific staff — including Upper Division Assistant Roni Sarkar and record keeper Subir Sarkar — handled the distribution of funds, with a senior official receiving the largest portion. Read more: Bangladesh moves up one step in global passport strength index He further claimed that ‘accounts are settled every Tuesday and Wednesday’ in a temporary third-floor room, and suggested reviewing CCTV recordings. These allegations could not be independently verified. Officials Push Back: ‘Prove It’ When approached inside the Uttara office, Deputy Director Nurul Huda strongly rejected the allegations, saying, “Do whatever you can. You cannot do anything to me. Prove I am involved if you can.” Asked about staff members named by brokers, he said some “do not work here” and insisted that night guards “are not on duty during daytime.” He dismissed claims of facilitating Rohingya passports: “Prove it. I will not say anything.” Headquarters Imposes Restrictions At the Agargaon Department of Immigration and Passports headquarters, journalists faced strict access protocols, including a requirement to deposit electronic devices before meeting officials. Director General Major General Md Nurul Anwar declined to comment directly but directed UNB to Director (Admin & Finance) Shihab Uddin Khan. Shihab Uddin later told UNB the department maintains a zero-tolerance policy. Read more: Why India’s passport is slipping in global rankings “Earlier, three officials of the Uttara office were dismissed. If irregularities are proven again, action will be taken — even if senior officials are involved. We encourage anyone with specific evidence to come forward," he said. Public Confidence Erodes Many residents of Uttara told UNB the passport office has become a ‘symbol of harassment’, saying it is now nearly impossible to receive services without informal payments. They called for immediate reforms, including digital monitoring, stricter oversight of scanning centres, and the removal of unregistered intermediaries from the premises.

Bangladesh has written afresh to India seeking former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s extradition following the recent verdict by the International Crimes Tribunal-1. Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Sunday (November 23) disclosed the fresh diplomatic communication with New Delhi but did not elaborate further. A diplomatic source in New Delhi told UNB that the diplomatic note (note verbale) was sent to New Delhi soon after National Security Adviser (NSA) and High Representative for the Rohingya Issue Dr Khalilur Rahman’s returns home from New Delhi. Dr Rahman attended the 7th meeting of the National Security Advisers (NSAs) of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) in New Delhi on November 20 at the invitation of Indian NSA Ajit Doval. On November 17, the ICT sentenced Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to death in a case filed over crimes against humanity committed during last year’s July-August mass uprising. Former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who testified as a state witness in the case, was sentenced to five years in prison. Dhaka may approach ICC to bring back Hasina, Kamal: Law Adviser After the verdict, Bangladesh urged the government of India to immediately hand over former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, both convicted already, to its authorities. “I understand they need to be brought back. We will let India know our position officially. Certainly, an official letter will be sent,” Foreign Affairs Adviser Hossain told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on November 17. Acknowledging that India did not reply to Bangladesh’s extradition request for Hasina, Hossain said the situation is different now as the trial is completed and they are punished. "This is also an obligation for India under the existing extradition treaty between the two countries," said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement. "It would be a grave act of unfriendly conduct and a travesty of justice for any other country to grant shelter to these individuals convicted of crimes against humanity," said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in its statement. July Martyrs’ families demand swift execution of Hasina’s sentence Meanwhile, India said it noted the verdict announced by the International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh concerning Hasina and said they will always engage constructively with all stakeholders. “As a close neighbour, India remains committed to the best interests of the people of Bangladesh, including in peace, democracy, inclusion and stability in that country,” said India’s Ministry of External Affairs in a statement. The India ministry said they will always engage constructively with all stakeholders to that end. President of the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS) Maj Gen (retd) ANM Muniruzzaman on Saturday said India, as a friendly neighbour, should respect Bangladesh’s legal systems and return former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Bangladesh. "If India respects international norms and rules, and international order, then India as a friendly neighbour, should respect Bangladesh’s legal systems," he said while responding to a question during a session at the Bay of Bengal Conversation in Dhaka. UN rights body regrets Hasina’s death sentence, calls verdict important for victims Muniruzzaman said Hasina's trial has gone through all international standards legal systems under which she was convicted.  "And that's a legal system that should be respected by all our neighbours," he added. If that respect is there, Muniruzzaman said, by all accounts she should be returned to Bangladesh. The security analyst said Bangladesh and India have an extradition treaty and India is almost legally bound to send Hasina back to Bangladesh under the treaty. He wanted to know what would be India's reaction if Bangladesh was housing a number of Indians and did not return them after a request made by New Delhi to Dhaka. If that is the case, Muniruzzaman said, anybody convinced under Bangladesh's law by international standards, India is legally bound to send him or her bank to Bangladesh.  "And by all those accounts, we demand that New Delhi sends her (Hasina) back to Bangladesh," he said. Verdict in Rajuk plot graft case against Hasina, Putul on Nov 27

Chief Adviser Prof Yunus has described the cut in donor funding as a serious challenge, saying that it has already caused school closures and the loss of thousands of jobs for Rohingya teachers. "This is a disaster. Education in the camps provided a glimmer of hope for hundreds of thousands of Rohingya children. Our concern is for these children, who are growing up as angry young people and that anger could erupt in unpredictable ways," Prof Yunus told Unicef Executive Director Catherine Russell. She met with the Chief Adviser on Monday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly at a hotel in New York. Prof Yunus, UNHCR chief push for justice, new resources for Rohingya Their discussion focused on the ongoing Rohingya crisis, particularly the severe funding shortfall affecting humanitarian operations for the over one million refugees currently sheltered in Bangladesh. A key concern was the impact of these funding cuts on education services for Rohingya children in the camps, said Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder on Tuesday. Unicef Executive Director Russell painted a grim picture of the global funding climate, noting that even traditionally generous European nations are reducing their humanitarian contributions to agencies such as Unicef.

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam on Thursday said the interim government is actively engaging with international stakeholders to address the Rohingya crisis, bringing the issue back to global forums as a major topic of discussion and working towards a roadmap for their safe and dignified return to Myanmar. As part of these efforts, a three-day international conference will be held in Cox’s Bazar beginning on August 24, he said. Briefing reporters at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital, Alam said Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus will attend the conference on August 25, while the dialogue will continue until August 26. Prof Yunus' Malaysia visit to be crucial, action-packed: Shafiqul Alam Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder and Senior Assistant Press Secretary Foyez Ahmmad were present. The Press Secretary said two more international conferences are scheduled to be held later this year in New York and Doha. The largest will take place in the last week of September in New York. He said Rohingya representatives, delegates from 40 countries, diplomats based in Dhaka and representatives from UN agencies will participate in the Cox’s Bazar conference. Alam said a special discussion with Rohingya representatives will take place on August 24. Bangladeshi workers to enjoy similar social benefits, protection like Malaysians: Shafiqul Alam The three-day conference will highlight issues of repatriation, funding and a comprehensive roadmap for the safe return of Rohingyas. Around 170 countries are expected to join the high-level conference on the situation of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar which will be organised on September 30 in New York on the sidelines of UNGA. Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain has recently said the government is working on three fronts -- uninterrupted flow of foreign funding, keeping the issue alive amid other global crises and ensuring their safe and dignified return. “The issue should not be forgotten. We continuously bring it to focus. We are working on three fronts,” he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Bangladesh sought intensified humanitarian contributions for Rohingyas, stressing that the pressure on Bangladesh’s economy, environment and local communities is unsustainable. "We are facing mounting humanitarian, developmental and security-related challenges," Adviser Hossain said recently while speaking at the OIC Ad Hoc Ministerial Committee on Accountability for Human Rights Violations against the Rohingyas. Bangladesh has shown ‘extraordinary compassion and responsibility’ by sheltering over 1.3 million forcibly displaced Rohingyas despite experiencing a snowballing of the crises. The United States and other foreign donor cutbacks in humanitarian aid have worsened the already existing education crisis for 437,000 school-age children in Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh, Human Rights Watch recently. On June 3, 2025, the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) suspended thousands of ‘learning centers’ run by nongovernmental organisations in the refugee camps, for lack of funding. The only education currently in the Bangladesh refugee camps is at schools established by the Rohingya community without outside support or official recognition. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and humanitarian partners are mobilizing to respond to the needs of up to 150,000 Rohingya refugees who have arrived in Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh over the last 18 months. Targeted violence and persecution in Rakhine State and the ongoing conflict in Myanmar have continued to force thousands of Rohingya to seek protection in Bangladesh. This movement of Rohingya refugees into Bangladesh, spread over months, is the largest from Myanmar since 2017, when some 750,000 fled the deadly violence in their native Rakhine State. Among the new arrivals, nearly 121,000 had been biometrically identified by the end of June, with more believed to be residing informally in the already overcrowded refugee camps. The overwhelming majority are women and children. More humanitarian support is urgently required as the new arrivals are largely dependent on the solidarity of those living in the camps, overstretching severely diminished resources.  

Fortify Rights on Wednesday said the International Criminal Court (ICC) should investigate war crimes, including abductions, torture, killings and beheadings of Rohingya civilians committed by the Arakan Army (AA), a powerful ethnic resistance force fighting the Myanmar military junta in Rakhine State, Myanmar. A new investigation by Fortify Rights documents how the AA, which currently controls much of Rakhine State, has committed serious violations of the laws of war in ad-hoc detention centres and villages under its control. “The Arakan Army is responsible for widespread abductions, brutal torture and the murder of Rohingya, some of whom were found beheaded, in blatant violation of the laws of war,” said Ejaz Min Khant, Human Rights Specialist at Fortify Rights. It said, “The International Criminal Court has jurisdiction and should investigate and prosecute perpetrators of serious crimes in Rakhine State, including from the Arakan Army.” Funding cuts heighten monsoon risks for Rohingyas in Bangladesh: UNHCR From April to July 2025, Fortify Rights interviewed 39 Rohingya individuals—including eight women—who survived and witnessed AA abuses in 2024 and 2025. Fortify Rights also viewed and analysed photographic and video evidence of AA crimes. “The Arakan Army must end its campaign of torture and killings of Rohingya in detention facilities and villages,” said Ejaz Min Khant, adding, “If the Arakan Army wants to be seen as a legitimate revolutionary armed force, it must respect international law, protect civilians, and be held accountable for the atrocities it has committed.”

The United Nations fears that more than 400 Rohingya refugees may have drowned in two separate shipwrecks off Myanmar’s coast earlier this month, marking what could be the deadliest maritime tragedy involving the persecuted group this year. In a statement released on Friday, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said it is deeply alarmed by reports of two maritime disasters on May 9 and 10. Initial findings suggest that a boat carrying 267 people sank on May 9, with only 66 survivors, while another vessel carrying 247 capsized the next day, with just 21 surviving. UNHCR said the Rohingya on these boats were either escaping from Bangladesh’s sprawling Cox’s Bazar refugee camps or fleeing conflict-hit Rakhine State in western Myanmar. The UN described the twin shipwrecks as potentially the most lethal incidents at sea involving Rohingya refugees in 2024. UNHCR Commissioner Filippo Grandi wrote on X that the tragedy highlights the desperate plight of the Rohingya and the increasing challenges they face, especially as international aid dwindles. UNHCR requires $383.1 mln in 2025 to stabilize lives of Rohingyas, host communities Since facing decades of systematic persecution in Myanmar, hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have fled the country, often embarking on perilous sea journeys in search of safety. The crisis escalated in 2017, when a brutal military crackdown forced over a million to flee to Bangladesh. Around 180,000 now face the threat of forced return to Myanmar, while many of those who stayed in Rakhine remain trapped in dire conditions. The humanitarian situation worsened after the military coup in 2021, which toppled the elected government and intensified conflict between the junta and ethnic rebel groups like the Arakan Army in Rakhine. Hai Kyung Jun, head of UNHCR’s Asia-Pacific bureau, said the deteriorating conditions and funding cuts are pushing more Rohingya to undertake deadly journeys in search of safety and dignity. UNHCR estimates that 657 Rohingya have died at sea in 2024 alone. The agency is urgently appealing for international support, noting that its $383 million funding target for 2025 remains only 30% met. Major humanitarian efforts have suffered due to reduced contributions from key donors, including the U.S. and other Western nations, which are shifting priorities toward defense spending amid global tensions. Source: Al Jazeera