UN Chief Arrives in Dhaka, to Visit Cox’s Bazar Rohingya Camps on Friday

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres arrived in Dhaka this afternoon for an official visit at the invitation of Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. 

An Emirates flight carrying Guterres landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) at 4:26 pm. He was received by Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, while two children greeted him with bouquets. From the airport, the UN chief proceeded to his accommodation at the Hotel InterContinental.

During his stay, Guterres is expected to discuss the UN’s cooperation with Bangladesh on the Rohingya crisis, and other pressing regional and international issues.

On Friday, he will hold meetings with Foreign Affairs Adviser Hossain and Dr. Khalilur Rahman, High Representative of the Chief Adviser on the Rohingya Issue and Priority Matters, at 9:00 am at the InterContinental. Later, at 10:00 am, he will meet Chief Adviser Dr. Yunus at the Chief Adviser’s Office.

Following the meeting, Guterres will fly to Cox’s Bazar on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines commercial flight to visit the Rohingya refugee camps. Upon arrival, he will be received by Disaster Management and Relief Adviser Faruk E Azam.

In Cox’s Bazar, Guterres will be joined by Chief Adviser Professor Yunus for Iftar with approximately 100,000 Rohingya refugees. During the event, both leaders will interact with Rohingya families, religious leaders, and community representatives.

Before Iftar, the UN Secretary-General is scheduled to visit key camp facilities, including a watchtower, a learning center, a multi-purpose service hub, and a jute production site. He is also expected to engage with Rohingya youth and children to hear their stories and concerns.

On Saturday, the UN Secretary-General will visit the UN Common Premises in Dhaka, where he will raise the UN official flag and view a photo exhibition marking 50 years of Bangladesh-UN relations.

In the afternoon, he will attend a roundtable discussion on Bangladesh’s reform process at the InterContinental Hotel. Later, he is expected to engage in a dialogue with youth and civil society leaders, followed by a joint media briefing with Foreign Affairs Adviser Hossain.

Chief Adviser Dr. Yunus will host a formal Iftar and dinner in honor of Guterres later that evening.

Guterres will depart Dhaka on Sunday at 9:55 am via an Emirates flight. 

In a recent letter to Chief Adviser Yunus, Guterres expressed hope that an upcoming high-level conference on the Rohingya issue would help generate greater global focus and sustainable solutions for the displaced community.

“The United Nations will continue to mobilize the international community to support Bangladesh as a host to the Rohingya,” Guterres wrote, adding that he has directed senior UN officials to enhance humanitarian aid and livelihood programs for affected communities in both Bangladesh and Myanmar’s Rakhine state.