Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday proposed five urgent measures to resolve the protracted Rohingya crisis, urging the international community to move from empathy to addressing its root causes, from promises to action and from managing displacement to ending it.

“The time has come to move from empathy to a search for root causes and their solutions, from promises to action and from managing displacement to ending it,” he said.

The Prime Minister made the proposals while addressing a high-level side event titled “The Rohingya Crisis: A Renewed Call for a Durable Solution from Protracted Displacement, with Justice and Accountability” at the UN Headquarters in New York.

The five proposals include establishing a clear and credible roadmap for the early, safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable repatriation of the Rohingyas to Myanmar; ending violence against civilians, including the Rohingyas, and guaranteeing their fundamental rights and security; ensuring adequate and predictable humanitarian support for the Rohingyas and host communities; strengthening justice and accountability; and stepping up regional and international cooperation to combat the narco-economy, human trafficking, digital scams, illegal arms and other transboundary crimes.

Elaborating on his first proposal, Tarique Rahman called on international and regional stakeholders to establish a clear and credible roadmap for the early, safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable repatriation of the Rohingyas to Myanmar.

He said the international community and other states must support stabilisation efforts and use their leverage to create conditions inside Myanmar conducive to return.

On the second proposal, the Prime Minister called for an end to violence against civilians, including the Rohingyas, in Myanmar.

“The fundamental rights and security of the Rohingyas must be guaranteed in their homeland to regain their confidence to return,” he said.

Thirdly, Tarique Rahman urged the international community to ensure adequate and predictable humanitarian support for the Rohingyas and support for host communities in Bangladesh.

“Their development aspirations should not be retarded by their generous act of hospitality,” he said.

As his fourth proposal, the Prime Minister stressed that justice and accountability are indispensable for sustainable repatriation.

He expressed deep appreciation for The Gambia’s leadership in pursuing accountability before the International Court of Justice and recognised the important role of the International Criminal Court in pursuing individual criminal accountability, alongside other international justice and investigative mechanisms. “International judicial and investigative mechanisms must receive sustained support. Those responsible for grave crimes must be held accountable,” he said.

In the fifth proposal, Tarique Rahman called for stronger regional and international cooperation to combat the narco-economy, human trafficking, digital scams, illegal arms and other transboundary crimes fuelling instability in the region.

He said the Rohingyas have faced discrimination, persecution and exclusion in Myanmar for decades.

“Bangladesh experienced several major waves of influx in 1978 and through the 1980s. Some repatriation was organised by the governments led by late President Ziaur Rahman and, subsequently, late Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. But the overall crisis situation deteriorated following the violence of 2017 in Myanmar,” the Prime Minister said.

He said the Rohingya crisis originated in Myanmar and its solution also lies there.

“Sadly, the situation inside Rakhine State remains deeply concerning,” the Prime Minister said, noting that the Rohingyas continue to face serious violations and abuses, including forced recruitment, arbitrary detention, restrictions on movement, forced labour and other forms of insecurity.

Serious violations have been reported by both the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army, he said.

“As such, the conditions for safe and dignified return remain challenged,” Tarique Rahman said.

Bangladesh has shouldered an enormous humanitarian responsibility for more than nine years and continues to host over 1.2 million Rohingyas, he said.

“Regrettably, people continue to flee violence in Myanmar. Thousands of babies are born in the camps every year. They add another generation to this prolonged displacement,” the Prime Minister said.

He said Bangladesh opened its borders “because humanity demanded it” and is providing food and health services to the Rohingyas.

Their children are receiving education based on the Myanmar curriculum through some 6,000 learning centres, while Rohingya youth are receiving capacity-building and skills-development training to prepare them for eventual reintegration in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, Tarique Rahman said.

However, he said the camps are not an ideal place to live for a long period.

The Prime Minister said the cost of prolonged displacement is growing every day not only for the Rohingyas but also for host communities in Cox’s Bazar, while the social, economic, environmental and security pressures on Bangladesh are immense.

Prolonged uncertainty and desperation are creating new challenges and security risks, including human trafficking, migrant smuggling, drug trafficking and other transnational crimes, he said.

“Some people are leaving by boat to Malaysia, endangering their lives. A crisis left unresolved in one country can become a security challenge for an entire region,” Tarique Rahman said.

He also expressed concern over the decline in humanitarian funding for the Rohingyas.

The Joint Response Plan sought more than $934 million in 2025, while the appeal for 2026 was scaled down to about $710 million, covering only minimum lifesaving needs, the Prime Minister said.

“This trend cannot continue,” he said, expressing deep gratitude to international partners that continue to support Bangladesh. “We need their support more than ever.”

Tarique Rahman said humanitarian generosity could not become an excuse for political inaction, nor could Bangladesh be expected to shoulder the responsibility indefinitely.

“Bangladesh does not want the Rohingyas to remain displaced forever. We want them to return to their homes in Myanmar safely, voluntarily, with dignity and with their rights protected,” he said.

The Prime Minister said Bangladesh had carried its responsibility with humanity and called on the international community to carry its responsibility “with conviction”.

“If the necessary conditions are created, Bangladesh will be ready to facilitate their return,” he said.

“Together, let us ensure that the Rohingyas’ fate is not another story of persecution, expulsion and displacement. Let it be a story of justice, dignity and hope. And above all, let it begin now,” Tarique Rahman said.

Bangladesh and The Gambia co-convened the high-level side event, with other partners joining as co-sponsors.

President of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly Dr Khalilur Rahman, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Myanmar Julie Bishop, and The Gambia’s Vice President Mohammed BS Jallow spoke at the event.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih presented the keynote paper at the discussion moderated by Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN Irene Khan.