Dhaka, Aug 18 (V7N) – Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Advisor of Bangladesh, emphasized the need to leverage Malaysia's influence in the international effort to resolve the ongoing Rohingya refugee crisis. He noted that Malaysia's experience in hosting refugees and its role as the Chair of ASEAN position the country uniquely to address the issue on a regional scale.
 
In a recent interview with Malaysia's national news agency Bernama, taken during his official visit to Kuala Lumpur, Yunus expressed hope that Malaysia would use its influence to push for solutions in the ongoing crisis.
 
He also warned that the situation in Myanmar's Rakhine state, where clashes between the Arakan Army and government forces continue, has worsened the refugee crisis, prompting more Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh. Over the last 18 months, Bangladesh has seen an influx of 150,000 new refugees, adding to the 1.2 million already residing in the country.
 
The crisis has become more complex, with the U.S. halting its aid to Bangladesh, creating a major challenge for the country. Yunus highlighted that in the coming months, three international conferences will be held to seek a sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis, with the first one taking place in Cox’s Bazar later this month. The conference will coincide with the eighth anniversary of Bangladesh providing refuge to the Rohingya.
 
Additionally, a high-level meeting on the issue will be held in September on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, and a third conference will take place in Doha, Qatar, later in the year.
 
The refugee repatriation efforts have made little progress, further complicated by ongoing armed conflict in Myanmar since 2021. The long-standing humanitarian crisis continues to affect not only Bangladesh but also several ASEAN countries, including Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia.
 
Despite not being a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention or the 1967 Protocol, Malaysia has shown humanitarian support by temporarily hosting around 150,000 Rohingya refugees. The crisis began in 2017 when Myanmar's military launched an offensive in Rakhine, leading to a mass exodus of Rohingya into neighboring countries, especially Bangladesh.
 
END/SMAS/AJ/