Seminar calls for political action to ensure safe, dignified rohingya repatriation

Civil society leaders and humanitarian experts across the Asia–Pacific have stressed the urgent need to protect and support Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and beyond until their safe, dignified and voluntary repatriation to Myanmar.

They urged UN agencies, INGOs, governments and humanitarian actors to press for political solutions, including repatriation, and to strengthen rights and facilities for the Rohingya, such as access to higher education, income-generating activities, travel passes, bank accounts, and the construction of prefabricated shelters in the camps.

The call was made at an international seminar organised by COAST Foundation and the Cox's Bazar CSO–NGO Forum (CCNF) during the Asia–Pacific Regional Humanitarian Partnership Week (RHPW) 2025 in Bangkok today. The RHPW is organised by ADRRN, CWSA, ICVA and UN OCHA.

The seminar, titled "Facilitating Rohingya Refugee and Citizenship Rights," was held in a hybrid format with more than one hundred participants from across the region. Md Iqbal Uddin, joint director of COAST Foundation in Bangladesh, delivered the keynote and moderated the session.

Speakers included Debbie Stothard of ALTSEAN–Burma; Hafsar Tamizuddin of the Asia-Pacific Refugee Rights Network in Bangkok; Marko Miljevic and Amir Hossain of the NGO Platform in Cox's Bazar; Khair Ullah of the Resilient Refugee Alliance; Takashi Komino of the Asian Disaster Reduction and Response Network; Sanjiv Bhanja of Tearfund Asia; Helal Uddin of Agrajatra Bangladesh; and Yesmin Ullah of the Rohingya Maiyafuinor Collaborative Network in Canada.

In his keynote, Iqbal Uddin said Myanmar authorities illegally revoked Rohingya citizenship in 1982, and reinstating it requires political commitment and shared responsibility. He called on all actors to strengthen support for Rohingya refugees and ensure their basic needs are met. Other speakers pressed for regional and global political action to hold the Myanmar junta accountable and ensure repatriation and full citizenship for the Rohingya.

Debbie Stothard said the Rohingya must be treated as human beings and that addressing the root causes is essential for restoring their citizenship. Hafsar Tamizuddin thanked the Bangladesh government for bringing the issue back to the table but warned that a negative narrative is being intentionally created. She urged expanded access to education and basic services.

Marko Miljevic said the NGO Platform is working tirelessly to improve conditions, noting that the crisis is now a global issue requiring political commitment. Khair Ullah called for travel passes and freedom of movement. Yesmin Ullah said failure to protect the Rohingya reflects a failure of global initiatives and criticised increasing trade rather than sanctions against the Myanmar junta.

Takashi Komino said it is shameful that countries are bypassing Rohingya rights and repatriation issues, calling it a breach of moral and political obligations. Sanjiv Bhanja noted a decline in campaigning for Rohingya rights and said collective efforts are needed to keep the issue alive until repatriation. Helal Uddin said the crisis is global and responsibility must be shared by all.