United Nations Secretary General António Guterres is set to arrive on a four-day official visit to Bangladesh today to witness the Rohingya refugee camps situation. This visit is expected to strengthen international efforts to mobilise increased food aid for the Rohingya refugees and to accelerate efforts to resolve the Rohingya crisis, according to the statement of Chief Adviser Dr Yunus’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam.
Bangladesh Foreign ministry officials said the UN secretary general will have a meeting with the head of the interim government Dr Muhammad Yunus on Friday night. From there they will go to Cox’s Bazar in the same flight to visit the Rohingya situation at the camps. They also will have an iftar with the Rohingya people there.
Speaking at the press briefing about the UN chief’s visit to the Rohingya camp, Alam said the UN chief’s visit is very important for Bangladesh as the Rohingya crisis has been overshadowed and lost focus due to numerous global crises.
“We firmly believe that after the visit of the UN chief, the issue will come into global discussion again and interest will grow among superpowers and regional powers,” the press secretary said.
He said the interim government hopes that Antonio Guterres would deliver a message seeking early resolution to the Rohingya crisis, Reports Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS).
The humanitarian aid to Rohingyas has sharply declined in recent days, he said, adding that the government hopes that efforts to mobilise aid to the Rohingya people would be redoubled due to the visit of Antonio Guterres.
Speaking about the visit of António Guterres, UN resident coordinator in Bangladesh Gwyn Lewis said that Guterres has been visiting Bangladesh during this Ramadan at the request of Dr Yunus to express his solidarity as every Ramadan he visits Muslim countries. During this visit, he will discuss the Rohingya situation and international cooperation in this regard, reports Prothom Alo newspaper.
