Cox's Bazar Correspondent

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Monday joined the 'Stakeholders’ Dialogue' on the Rohingya situation here in the beach town of Cox’s Bazar that called for joint efforts to ensure sustainable peace in Myanmar and in the region, dignified repatriation of the Rohingyas, addressing the challenges on multiple fronts.

The special session, as part of the three-day conference, began at 11am.

A one-minute silence was observed on the occasion of ‘Rohingya Genocide Remembrance Day.’ A documentary was also screened on the Rohingya crisis.

Speaking at the event, High Representative for the Rohingya Issue and National Security Adviser of Bangladesh Dr Khalilur Rahman called for concrete international action to ensure safe and dignified repatriation of the Rohingyas to their place of origin in Myanmar.

"We need to continue what we are doing," Khalilur Rahman said.

The three-day international conference titled 'Stakeholders’ Dialogue: Takeaways to the High-Level Conference on Rohingya Situation' began in Cox’s Bazar on Sunday with the aim of engaging global stakeholders to find solutions to the prolonged Rohingya crisis.

The first day's programme included a special interactive session with Rohingya representatives on confidence-building measures towards a conducive environment for the repatriation of Rohingyas.

Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam was among attendees in the session where Rohingya representatives from different camps in Bangladesh as well as Rohingya diaspora also joined.

The programme was moderated by Rohingya community leaders Lucky Karim, Mohammed Rofique (Khin Maung) and Omar Salma.

Soyedullah, Furquan Mirza, Abdullah, Hujjout Ullah, Sahat Zia Hero, Abdul Amin, Jaitun Nara, Jihin Noor and Abdullah and Ro Mujif Khan spoke at the session.

The Rohingya diaspora also spoke in the session. This session was earmarked for the Rohingya representatives.

UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar Thomas H Andrews joined the session.

Among others, representatives from the resident diplomatic Missions, UN agencies, international organisations, media, experts and civil society joined the session.

United Nations Resident Coordinator (UNRC-a.i.) Rana Flowers, Head of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) Nicholas Koumjian, and Assistant High Commissioner, UNHCR Raouf Mazou also attended the session.

Representatives from major political parties, including BNP, Bangladesh Jamaat-e Islami, NCP, Islami Andolon Bangladesh, and Gono Odhikar Parishad, also joined it.