United News of Bangladesh

UN Secretary-General António Guterres arrived at the Rohingya refugee camp in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, as part of his visit to Bangladesh. He is set to participate in various programmes throughout the day, engaging with refugees and humanitarian organisations. Count on UN to help build sustainable, equitable future for all: Guterres tells Dr Yunus Later in the day, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus is expected to visit the camp before iftar to join the UN chief. Their discussions are likely to focus on the ongoing challenges faced by Rohingya refugees and the support needed for their well-being.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres arrived in Dhaka on Thursday with a packed schedule for Friday and Saturday, featuring a series of meetings and greater engagements in Cox’s Bazar Rohingya camp, before his departure on Sunday morning. Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain received the UN chief after his arrival at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by an Emirates Airlines flight in the afternoon, said Chief Adviser’s deputy press secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder. Guterres will meet Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus at his office on Friday morning. Adviser Hossain Touhid Hossain and High Representative on Rohingya issue and priority matters Dr Khalilur Rahman will also meet the UN chief at a city hotel. After these two separate meetings, the UN chief together with the Chief Adviser will travel to Cox’s Bazar to visit the Rohingya camps. Disaster Management and Relief Adviser Faruk E Azam Bir Protik will receive them at Cox’s Bazar International Airport at around 12pm on Friday. At a briefing at the watch tower led by UNRC, RRRC, ISCG Principal Coordinator and IOM-UNHCR Representative, a panoramic view of the camps and Myanmar border will be provided. There will be a briefing by the World Bank; demonstrating the role of IFIs on strengthening infrastructure and human capital investment among refugees. The briefing will highlight disaster mitigation and integrated approaches to service delivery. Sharing their engagements in the Rohingya camp, Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder said they expect 1 lakh Rohingya people will join iftar with the Chief Adviser and UN chief together. Guterres and Dr Yunus will take part in an Iftar meal with refugees and members of the Bangladeshi host community, recognising the generosity of Bangladesh in sheltering nearly one million Rohingya who fled persecution and violence in Myanmar. They are expected to return to Dhaka from Cox’s Bazar around 8:40pm on Friday. On Saturday, the UN chief will visit new UN common premises and see the 50th anniversary photo exhibition. Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan and Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin are likely to remain present. Guterres will also join a meeting with the UN Country Team members and UN all staff. He is likely to attend a roundtable discussion on reforms and will have a separate dialogue with the youth on Saturday. The UN Secretary General will also have a meeting with the civil society to be moderated by Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan. A joint media briefing by the UN Secretary General and Foreign Adviser Hossain is likely to take place before joining Iftar and an early dinner to be hosted by Chief Adviser Yunus. The UN Secretary General is scheduled to leave Dhaka on Sunday morning wrapping up his second visit to Bangladesh. High Representative Khalilur Rahman will see him off at the airport. Urgent Call for Action As the UN Secretary-General visits Bangladesh, ActionAid Bangladesh on Thursday underlined the urgent need to address the escalating humanitarian crisis faced by Rohingya refugees, particularly women and girls. The decision of the World Food Programme (WFP) to cut food assistance from USD 12.50 to USD 6 per person per month, effective 1 April, 2025, will have catastrophic consequences, it said. According to the WFP, this reduction, driven by severe funding shortfalls, will push over one million refugees below the survival threshold, worsening malnutrition, and health crises. ActionAid Bangladesh called for immediate action. “We urge the international community to provide urgent funding to restore full food rations and ensure gender-responsive aid that prioritizes women and girls. Long-term solutions, including sustainable repatriation and resettlement plans, must also be developed to address the root causes of the crisis.” The INGO said the Rohingya people cannot afford to be forgotten. “As the UN Secretary-General focuses global attention on this crisis, we call for swift and compassionate action to protect the lives and dignity of over one million refugees, particularly women and girls.”

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres will arrive in Dhaka on Thursday with a packed schedule for Friday and Saturday, featuring a series of meetings and greater engagements in Cox’s Bazar Rohingya camp, before his departure on Sunday morning. Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain will receive the UN chief who is scheduled to arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by an Emirates flight at around 5pm, officials said quoting his tentative programme schedule. Guterres will meet Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus at his office on Friday morning. Adviser Hossain Touhid Hossain and High Representative on Rohingya issue and priority matters Dr Khalilur Rahman will also together meet the UN chief at a city hotel. After these two separate meetings, the UN chief together with the Chief Adviser will travel to Cox’s Bazar to visit the Rohingya camps. Disaster Management and Relief Adviser Faruk E Azam Bir Protik will receive them at Cox’s Bazar International Airport at around 12pm on Friday. Global focus on Rohingya crisis to return through UN chief’s visit: Govt At a briefing at the watch tower led by UNRC, RRRC, ISCG Principal Coordinator and IOM-UNHCR Representative, a panoramic view of the camps and Myanmar border will be provided. There will be a briefing by the World Bank; demonstrating the role of IFIs on strengthening infrastructure and human capital investment among refugees. The briefing will highlight disaster mitigation and integrated approaches to service delivery. Sharing their engagements in the Rohingya camp, Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder said they expect 1 lakh Rohingya people will join iftar with the Chief Adviser and UN chief together. Guterres and Dr Yunus will take part in an Iftar meal with refugees and members of the Bangladeshi host community, recognising the generosity of Bangladesh in sheltering nearly one million Rohingya who fled persecution and violence in Myanmar. They are expected to return to Dhaka from Cox’s Bazar around 8:40pm on Friday. UN chief Guterres meets Dr Yunus in Davos On Saturday, the UN chief will visit new UN common premises and see 50th anniversary photo exhibition. Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan and Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin are likely to remain present. Guterres will also join a meeting with the UN Country Team members and UN all staff. He is likely to attend a roundtable discussion on reforms and will have a separate dialogue with the youth on Saturday. The UN Secretary General will also have a meeting with the civil society to be moderated by Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan. A joint media briefing by the UN Secretary General and Foreign Adviser Hossain is likely to take place before joining Iftar and early dinner to be hosted by Chief Adviser Yunus. Bangladesh invites UN Secretary General Guterres for 2025 visit The UN Secretary General is scheduled to leave Dhaka on Sunday morning wrapping up his second visit to Bangladesh. High Representative Khalilur Rahman will see him off at the airport.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has congratulated António Guterres on his re-appointment as the secretary-general of the United Nations. He commended Guterres' leadership in the UN during his first term as secretary-general. Dr Momen also thanked him for his continued attention to the Rohingya issue. Also read: Guterres gets second term to lead UN The foreign minister said, "Although Bangladesh is on track towards implementing SDGs, there are concerns about the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, especially in securing financing for the SDGs." Dr Momen also called for continued support measures for graduating countries. The UN has special relations with Bangladesh, said Guterres.  He praised Bangladesh's strong leadership in all areas of the UN's activities, especially in peacekeeping, climate change and women empowerment. Dr Momen met with the UN secretary-general at the UN Headquarters Thursday.