United Nations: Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will visit Bangladesh from March 13 to 16 to show solidarity with Rohingya refugees during Ramadan. His spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, announced the visit.
Guterres will participate in an Iftar meal with Rohingya refugees and members of the Bangladeshi host community in Cox's Bazar. He will also meet with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammed Yunus and young representatives from civil society in Dhaka.
He will also be with “Bangladeshi communities who have been generously hosting the refugees from Myanmar,” the spokesperson said.
Guterres began visiting Muslim communities during Ramadan when he served as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. He vistis “a Muslim community which is facing distress” as a sign of “Ramadan solidarity”, and this year he chose to visit the refugees from Myanmar in Bangladesh, Dujarric said.
“The plight of the Rohingyas is something that is extremely close to his heart,” having “dealt directly with the Rohingya crisis” while in that office, he said.
According to Stephane Dujarric, Bangladesh is currently hosting over one million Rohingya refugees who have fled persecution in Myanmar. Dujarric highlighted the remarkable generosity of developing countries, particularly Bangladesh, which have opened their hearts and homes to provide shelter to those seeking refuge, despite often facing significant economic challenges themselves.
“Every Ramadan, I undertake a solidarity visit and fast with a Muslim community around the globe. These missions remind the world of the true face of Islam,” Guterres said in his message.
Rohingyas began fleeing to Bangladesh in large numbers starting in August 2017 when the Myanmar forces launched a massive campaign against them in retaliation for the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army’s (ARSA) attacks on police and civilians. The civilian victims included Hindus, of whom nearly 100 were killed, according to Amnesty International.
(inputs from IANS)