Maksuda Lisa (Dhaka Bureau)
Bangladesh has stepped up its outreach and diplomatic engagement with international partners, focusing on the durable and sustainable repatriation of displaced Rohingya. In line with this, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir held separate meetings with the United Nations Resident Coordinator and a delegation from the United Kingdom’s All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), calling for enhanced international cooperation to ensure a safe, voluntary, dignified, and sustainable return of the Rohingya.
Repatriation at the Core of Diplomatic Outreach
During a meeting with UN Resident Coordinator Carol Flore-Smerezniak at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, State Minister Humayun Kabir highlighted Bangladesh’s long-standing partnership with the UN. He reaffirmed Dhaka’s commitment to further strengthening cooperation with the UN for shared priorities and national development, while expressing gratitude for Flore-Smerezniak’s leadership of the UN Country Team.
Kabir briefed the UN representative on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s key engagements during the recently concluded High-Level Week of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), including the Prime Minister’s meeting with the UN Secretary-General. He also called for greater coordination among UN agencies and closer alignment between UN programs and Bangladesh’s five-year reform and development framework for 2026–2031.
Applaudingly recognizing the UN’s humanitarian assistance in Bangladesh, the State Minister emphasized that the only effective solution to the crisis lies in the safe and sustainable repatriation of the Rohingya to their homeland. In response, Flore-Smerezniak commended the government’s continued support and reaffirmed the UN Country Team’s commitment to working closely with Bangladesh to address shared challenges.
Multilateral Support and the Role of International Partners
The Rohingya crisis is no longer confined to a mere humanitarian concern; it now encompasses broader dimensions such as regional security and irregular migration. Consequently, Dhaka is urging stronger international intervention.
UK Parliamentary Support:
A UK parliamentary delegation led by Apsana Begum, MP and Chair of the APPG on Bangladesh- alongside MP Shockat Adam and House of Lords member Lord Qurban Hussain- met with State Minister Kabir. The British delegation pledged ongoing support for the Rohingya refugees and promised to advocate for sustained humanitarian aid and sustainable repatriation in the UK Parliament and international forums. The delegation is scheduled to visit the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar to witness the ground reality firsthand.
Sweden’s Commitment:
Earlier on October 4, Swedish Ambassador to Bangladesh Nicolas Weeks met with State Minister Kabir, seeking Sweden’s continued cooperation in maintaining international focus on the crisis and facilitating safe, voluntary, and dignified repatriation. Ambassador Weeks praised Bangladesh’s humanitarian efforts and pledged Sweden’s close collaboration across multilateral forums.
Beyond Humanitarian Aid: The Urgent Need for a Lasting Solution
While Bangladesh has generously sheltered hundreds of thousands of Rohingya, Dhaka’s recent diplomatic blitz makes it clear that temporary humanitarian relief must be superseded by genuine international efforts to create a conducive environment for safe and sustainable repatriation. With the UN General Assembly President Dr. Khalilur Rahman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman both stressing the necessary conditions for return- such as safety, security, freedom of movement, legal status, and the restoration of property rights- Bangladesh continues to rally robust global partnerships for a permanent resolution to the crisis.
Maksuda Lisa: Maksuda Lisa is a senior journalist and one of Bangladesh’s early-generation women sports journalists, with 18 years of experience working across leading national newspapers, including Dainik Banglabazar and Manab Zamin, as well as television, print media, and online news portals. She is currently a Staff Correspondent at Pressenza International Press Agency (Dhaka Bureau).
She is the first woman elected Sports Secretary of the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) and served two consecutive terms. Alongside journalism, she has been actively involved in cricket-particularly women’s cricket- through team management, coaching, and organizational roles. She served as a Liaison Officer at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cups in 2012 and 2014, Manager of the Pink Team in the BCB Women’s Cricket Cup, and Manager of the Dhaka Abahani women’s team.
A former first-class cricketer with a 15-year competitive career, she represented Dhaka and Sylhet Divisions at the competitive level. She is currently a National Panel Umpire with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and Organising Secretary of the Bangladesh Women Cricketers Association (BWCA). She holds a master’s degree in Political Science.