UN Secretary-General’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) advocate Queen Mathilde visited Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar district today. Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, among others, accompanied the Belgian queen during her visit there. She visited a learning center, participated in a session with women working on preventing gender-based violence, interacted with women learning new skills and joined a short briefing on the work on mental health and spoke with mental health volunteers. She is scheduled to return to Dhaka this evening and join a dinner hosted by Parliament Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury. The UN Country Team in Bangladesh on Monday warmly welcomed Queen Mathilde. In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic which stalled and reversed development progress globally, and the subsequent Russia-Ukraine war that induced a cost-of-living crisis, this visit "highlights the heightened importance of the SDGs, and also showcases Bangladesh’s dynamism and commitment", said the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Dhaka. On her first day to the country, the Belgian queen visited Fakir Apparels Ltd, a garment factory in Narayangan that produces clothes for major international brands. Also read: Rohingya man shot dead inside Ukhiya camp  

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) Goodwill Ambassador Tahsan Khan Sunday visited Cox's Bazar and met with Rohingyas to learn about their experiences on World Refugee Day. The theme of this year's World Refugee Day is "together we heal, learn and shine." During Tahsan's visit to the Rohingya camps, he also met with Rohingya musicians and filmmakers and performed a song with them. "These young filmmakers from Omar's Film School and these talented Rohingya musicians are doing incredible work to shine a light on the Rohingya culture and heritage through music, photography and film. They are also working tirelessly to raise awareness about Covid-19 and other health messages," said Tahsan. Also read: Bhasan Char much better than Cox’s Bazar camps: UNHCR

Two senior officials of  UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, arrived here on Sunday on a four-day visit to see Rohingya situation both in Cox's Bazar Rohingya camps and Bhasan Char.  The UN officials are Gillian Triggs, the Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and Raouf Mazou, Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, a crucial role for overseeing UNHCR’s responses to refugee situations worldwide. They will hold meetings with the officials in Dhaka and are planning to visit Cox's Bazar and Bhasan Char, a senior official told UNB, adding that the programmes are yet to be finalised. Read:Global initiative launched to build sport Club Centres in Rohingya camps; beyond They are likely to go to Bhasan Char first, most probably on Monday, said the official.  Bangladesh is hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas in Cox's Bazar district and Bhasan Char and Bangladesh is expecting UN agencies engagement in Bhasan Char within next couple of months to provide humanitarian services there.  The government has a plan to shift 100000 Rohingyas in Bhasan Char gradually while around 20,000 are already shifted there.  Bhasan Char, a temporary shelter for Rohingyas until repatriation, remained unhurt with no casualty to personnel and livestock though cyclone Yaas caused damage to some extent in coastal areas.  Preparation to face challenges of Cyclone Yaas has become a proven guideline for facing future cyclones, says a senior official of the government adding that it brought confidence  amongst all at Bhasan Char.  The Bhasan Char island also remained unaffected during cyclone Amphan though it caused damages in coastal districts of the country, he said. During his recent visit, United Nations General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir highly appreciated Bangladesh's efforts for Rohingyas in Bhashan Char, saying it will be another example to the world on how to deal with the refugee issues. “I really applaud the work done there – the quality of buildings and also taking all the precautions. I think this will be another example to the world on how to deal with refugee issues,” he said. Bozkir hoped that this would work well for the Rohingya people, giving them a better condition in Bhashan Char. Read: General Assembly has not forgotten Rohingya people: Bozkir The UNGA President said he could not visit Bhasan Char but he saw a video on it and acknowledged the high-level of works there, including precautions and safety measures. Bozkir appreciated Bangladesh’s role in the peacekeeping operations and sacrifices of the Bangladeshi peacekeepers for the peace and security of the world. The UNGA President said he has admiration for Prime Minister Hasina for her political and humanitarian thinking and saluted the hospitality and courage that Bangladesh has shown to the Rohingya people.  

Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki has said Japan will work towards early repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar.

South Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Lee Jang-keun has announced a new contribution of US$ 300,000 to WFP Bangladesh to support its operations that provide food assistance to 860,000 people in Cox's Bazar Rohingya camps.

Rohingya leaders from Cox's Bazar camps visited Bhasan Char on Saturday to see facilities over there as the government has planned to relocate some 1 lakh Rohingyas to the island, aiming to ease the pressure on Cox's Bazar camps.