They also said the UN should limit its role only to monitoring and technical assistance in Rohingya response.

They, however, called upon the international community to strongly support the United Nations to uphold multilateralism and promote human rights and sustainable peace.

BDCSO Process, a forum of around 700 local CSOs/NGOs, organised the virtual 3rd session of their 2nd Annual Conference titled ‘Partnership and Process to Promote Sustainable Local CSO/NGOs’ on Saturday.

Representatives from various local and international NGOs and international agencies joined the session virtually with Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) Executive Director Shaheen Anam in the chair.

Shaheen Anam said, “We’ll fight for the UN that at the international level to uphold multilateralism, but the UN  should evaluate us properly at the national level. Local NGOs have to be treated with equality.”

She expressed full solidarity and respect to the human dignity of Rohingyas and said the Local NGOs’ leadership should not be undermined regarding humanitarian response to the Rohingya crisis.

Shaheen called upon the UN to provide necessary support to the local CSO/NGOs with equal partnership and transparency for enabling them to lead the humanitarian response and development at the local level.

Nazrul Islam, the Director General of Multilateral Economic Affairs Wing in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the UN CSO and Multilateralism should have synergy and governments should recognise the leadership role of local NGOs at the grassroots.

He called upon the UN to provide necessary support to the local CSO/NGOs with equal partnership and transparency for enabling them to lead the humanitarian response and development.

Also read: China concerned at delay in repatriation of Rohingyas