RRRC chief stresses repatriation as key to resolving rohingya crisis

"There is no hope for resolving the Rohingya crisis until repatriation begins," said Mohammed Mizanur Rahman (Additional Secretary), Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC), while speaking as Chief Guest at an event organised by ActionAid Bangladesh on Sunday marking eight years of its Rohingya response programme in Cox's Bazar.

Rahman said, "For the past eight years, the Government has been working tirelessly to resolve the Rohingya crisis. Over the past year, Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus has visited the camps twice, a three-day international conference has been organised, and most recently, the issue was discussed at the United Nations General Assembly."

He added, "We are witnessing many positive changes in the Rohingya camps through our ongoing activities. However, due to the decline in funding, the crisis has intensified. Unless dignified and safe repatriation begins, we do not see any sustainable solution to this crisis."

The programme highlighted ActionAid Bangladesh's ongoing initiatives to protect the rights and dignity of Rohingya refugees, its achievements over the past eight years, and the need for coordinated long-term solutions. Representatives from the United Nations, international agencies, researchers, and rights activists attended the event.

Two panel discussions — "Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus Strategy" and "Promoting Multi-Sectoral and Integrated Approaches" — featured Md Shamsud Douza, Additional RRRC (Joint Secretary); David Welin, Assistant Representative (Protection), UNHCR; Gabriella Virginia Natascia Zullino, Senior Protection Officer, UNHCR; David Bugden, Principal Coordinator, ISCG; Silja Rajander, Head of Cox's Bazar Sub-Office, UN Women; Juan Carlos Martinez Bandera, Head of Programme Area Office, WFP; Shahariar Sadat, Deputy Executive Director, CPJ, BRAC University; and Jasmin Akter, award-winning coach from Rohingya Action North East, UK.

Speakers underscored that sustainable solutions must prioritise investment in women's empowerment, skills development, and community engagement, alongside improved coordination among humanitarian agencies.

Farah Kabir, Country Director of ActionAid Bangladesh, said, "There can be no compromise when it comes to humanitarian assistance. The miserable lives of the Rohingya cannot be ignored. The injustice they have faced must never be forgotten, and justice must be ensured. We need a comprehensive master plan for the Rohingya response that unites all sectors under one coordinated framework."

Six individuals were honoured with the "Beacon of Hope Award" for their exceptional contributions to humanitarian support: Maung Solaiman Shah, Mohammed Idrish, Kazi Md Shoeb Amran, Md Azad Moral, Jesmin Prema, and Ummay Hafsa.

The event also featured a documentary on ActionAid's eight-year Rohingya work, a refugee-performed stage play titled "Hotte Thamibo" (We Shall Not Stop), and an exhibition titled "Camp Hope" replicating camp life.

Senior officials including Abdul Alim, Head of Humanitarian Programme, ActionAid Bangladesh; Maruf Mohammad Shehab, Head of Innovation and Resource Mobilisation; Sukarna Abdullah, Co-Coordinator, NGO Platform, Cox's Bazar; and Razia Sultana, Founder and Executive Director, RW Welfare Society, were also present.