Framing Rohingya crisis as security issue may invite wrong interventions: Kugelman

American foreign policy analyst Michael Kugelman has warned that framing the Rohingya crisis primarily as a security issue could invite "the wrong kinds of interventions". 

Addressing the Bengal Delta Conference 2025 held at the Intercontinental Dhaka, he urged Bangladesh to maintain a balance between raising legitimate security concerns and ensuring the crisis remains grounded in its humanitarian dimension.

"The risk is securitising a humanitarian crisis. That could bring the wrong kinds of interventions. The challenge for Bangladesh is to find the middle ground—enough to draw global attention through security and geopolitical links, but without losing sight that this is, above all, a humanitarian crisis," Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute, said.

He was speaking at a session titled "Rohingya Refugee Crisis: Regional Security Risks, Repatriation Pathways, and Livelihood Challenges", organised by the Dacca Institute of Research and Analytics (daira)

He said that awareness efforts must go beyond humanitarian appeals, and the crisis should also be linked to regional geopolitics and security.

"Bangladesh faces a rare situation, a violent non-state actor in Myanmar controls the entire border. That is almost unique in the world," Kugelman said.

The American foreign policy analyst noted that Bangladeshi leaders consistently describe the Rohingya situation as the country's most urgent challenge. Yet, beyond Bangladesh, awareness remains low.

"Only the UN and aid groups are really engaged," he said.

Kugelman also praised Dhaka's efforts to leverage the chief adviser's international standing to raise global attention, saying he is respected abroad and has spoken at the UN and other platforms.

"He has appealed for more aid and even asked other countries to take in Rohingya. But the global political climate makes this a very difficult request," he added.