Published: 12:42 AM, 24 August 2026
Don't let Rohingya crisis step into another decade: Shama Obaed
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed has called upon the global community to help return Rohingya refugees to Myanmar, warning against letting the crisis drag into another decade.
She spoke in Dhaka on Sunday, two days before the ninth anniversary of the latest major Rohingya influx into Bangladesh.
She said, "Ten years should not become 20. The Rohingya people deserve more than survival. They deserve a future. They deserve a home. They deserve safety. They deserve dignity. And they deserve the right to return to their homeland in peace."
She spoke at a daylong seminar titled "Rohingya Crisis Heading Towards 10 Years: From Humanitarian Response to Sustainable Solution".
Since Aug 25, 2017, hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas fleeing a Myanmar military crackdown in Rakhine have sought refuge in Bangladesh.
Around 1.3 million now live in camps in Cox's Bazar, Ukhiya and Teknaf, placing mounting pressure on the country's economy, environment and security.
