Photo: Collected
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres is set to visit Bangladesh from March 13 to 16, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The visit follows an invitation from Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, extended through Khalilur Rahman, High Representative for the Rohingya Issue and Priority Matters, during a meeting with Guterres in New York on February 7.
In a letter responding to Yunus, Guterres expressed solidarity on the Rohingya crisis. “I share your concerns about its impact on Bangladesh and the region, as well as the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Rakhine,” he wrote. “The United Nations remains committed to rallying international support for Bangladesh as a host to the Rohingya. Through my good offices and my Special Envoy on Myanmar, I will continue collaborating with regional players, ASEAN, and other stakeholders to seek a political resolution to the Myanmar crisis, paving the way for the safe and voluntary return of the Rohingya to Rakhine.”
Guterres also welcomed the upcoming dialogue, stating, “I look forward to advancing our discussions during my visit to Bangladesh in March, coinciding with the holy month of Ramadan.” Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain also told journalists, "UN Secretary General will visit Bangladesh. We are still working out his final programmes."
The upcoming visit of the UN Secretary General is considered very significant amid the political and security tensions in Bangladesh. Guterres for the last time visited Bangladesh in 2018. The visit underscores the UN’s ongoing support for Bangladesh amid its transitional phase and the protracted Rohingya situation.
Messenger/JRTarek
