On August 25, 2025, Bangladesh’s Nobel laureate-turned-interim leader Muhammad Yunus delivered a stark warning: his country has reached its capacity to offer support to the 1.3 million Rohingya refugees sheltering in Cox’s Bazar. The Rohingya—fleeing a brutal military campaign described by the UN as ethnic cleansing—have endured precarious lives over the past eight years. At least half of them are children, trapped in overcrowded and under-resourced camps, without access to education, medical care, or safe environments.
Yunus spoke at a high-stakes conference marking the eighth anniversary of the 2017 Rohingya exodus. He stressed that Bangladesh cannot bear this burden alone anymore. He said, “We don’t foresee any scope whatsoever for further mobilisation of resources from domestic sources,” and pleaded with the global community for a practical, long-term solution, including a plan for safe repatriation.
At the same time, the Rohingya themselves protested in Kutupalong camp, brandishing banners that read: “No more refugee life”, “Stop genocide”, and “Repatriation the ultimate solution.” Their message was clear: survival isn’t enough—they want rights and recognition in Myanmar.
The broader world must listen. The Rohingya crisis—one of the most urgent humanitarian emergencies—cannot be managed by Bangladesh alone. The strain on resources, schools, health systems, and social services is profound. Children risk becoming a lost generation without intervention. A strong, collective international effort is needed—not only for relief but also for justice and repatriation.
Bangladesh’s appeal is a call to fulfill global responsibility: uphold human dignity, insist on voluntary and safe returns, and ensure long-term political solutions in Myanmar. These refugees deserve more than temporary shelter—they deserve a real future.
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