Chief Adviser of the interim government in Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus has warned about the Rohingya crisis in his speech at the 80th UN General Assembly.
He warned that eight years on, “the ongoing conflict in our neighbouring country, Myanmar, has created a situation of deep concern for the entire region.”
He stressed that the crisis is far from resolution, as Rohingya continue to flee persecution in Rakhine State. “Deprivation of rights and persecution of the Rohingya rooted in cultural identity–based politics continue in Rakhine,” he said, adding that discriminatory policies must be reversed without delay.
He warned that international aid for the Rohingya was drying up, citing the UN’s World Food Programme. “Without urgent new funding, monthly rations may have to be halved to a paltry $6 per person,” Yunus warned, adding that this could deepen hunger, worsen malnutrition and drive the Rohingya to desperate measures.
Yunus, a Nobel Laureate, called for a political solution involving all ethnic stakeholders in Myanmar, ensuring the Rohingya are integrated “with equal rights as equal citizens.”
Also, Yunus hailed his country’s uprising, stating that it is the second time since last year’s Gen Z-led uprising that he has addressed the UN General Assembly.
“Last year, in this august assembly, I spoke to you from a country that had just witnessed a popular uprising. I shared with you our aspirations for transformation.
“Today, I stand here to tell you how far we have come on that journey. Out of every 100 people on this planet, nearly three live in Bangladesh.”
Muhammad Yunus
He stressed that Bangladesh’s story is not important because of numbers nor because of geopolitical location. “Our story matters because it is a reminder of the extraordinary power of ordinary people,” he said.
“It matters because it inspires hope among nations everywhere, that no matter how deep the crisis, no matter how impossible the solution may seem, the path to renewal is never lost.”
Muhammad Yunus
Protests in the South Asian country last year toppled the 15-year rule of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Yunus’s interim government has ruled since, until a general election projected for next year is held.
Additionally, Yunus highlighted the contribution of migrant workers, saying that remittances from Bangladeshi migrant workers are helping to support the South Asian country.
According to the International Organization for Migration, about 7.1 million Bangladeshis live abroad. The World Bank states that they sent home about $18bn in 2019.
“Their contribution is not only vital for Bangladesh, it is equally valuable for host countries where they provide essential services in high demand. Migration is therefore mutually beneficial: good for us, good for them.”
Muhammad
He called for countries hosting Bangladeshi workers to “ensure empathy and protection.”
Yunus Points Out Bangladesh’s Agreement Of UN Claim Of Gaza Genocide
Yunus said that Bangladesh agrees with a UN human rights commission’s finding that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. “We do agree with the UN independent international inquiry commission that we are witnessing a genocide happening live,” he said.
“Unfortunately, on behalf of humanity, we are not doing enough to stop it. If this continues, neither future generations nor history will forgive us.”
Muhammad Yunus
Yunus finished his speech vowing to support multilateralism. He urged that the challenges ahead “cannot be made by any single country alone, and we must also remember that in today’s world where one nation falls into crisis.”
He asserted that when crisis erupts in one corner of the globe, the security of the whole world is put at risk.
