Yesterday JRP (Joint Response Planning) 2026 in Rohingya Response lunched in UNHCR office in Dhaka, where Sumitra Mukarjee; Country Director of Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has given an speech. UNHCR in view of the practice they have requested NGO representatives in RCT (Rohingya Coordination Team) to select one to speak in the event. RCT has a WhatsApp group. Within a minute of UNHCR proposal Manish Agarwal the CD of Concern Worldwide proposed Sumitra's name.

I have opposed it with two reasons, (i) as we have a NGO Platform (NGOP, a body of 180 NGOs working in Rohingya response, such a speaker should be selected by NGOP, (ii) it should be a Bangladeshi citizen i.e. a local or national NGO leader.

I also wrote this appeal to UNHCR. I have also written that, historically INGOs in Bangladesh with their effort, they tried to facilitate local and national NGO leadership, they facilitate the process and keep themselves behind. Local and national NGO leaders were the first responder and still they are playing greater role in Rohingya response, they must be recognized in leadership.

We heard that this Manish Agarwal for formed an association of CD group in Rohingya response, that’s an good attempt, but it should not be to snatch space of local and national NGOs.

In one stage I also urge UNHCR to select three speakers, from each type of NGOs, ie, local, national, and international, maybe it will be one minutes for each speaker.

But UNHCR has not changed their position after repeated request, please note that from 2026 UNHCR in Coxsbazar formally partnering with INGO like Action Aid and ACTED, excluded local NGOs. Manish of Concern Worldwide continue to argue with his position. Finally, all of my effort has gone in vain, the space has given to Sumitra Mukherjee the CD of DRC.

I can ask Manish and Sumitra, if such a thing would be happening in India, is any Indian NGOs will accept this that instead of their Indian national, will they allow Bangladeshi national / NGO leader to speak. Shame, both you have shown a precedence of colonial attitude and UNHCR you have shown an attitude to disregard the primacy of local and national NGO leadership in Rohingya response.

UNHCR has given space BRAC to speak, BRAC is a Bangladeshi origin INGO. Its role cannot replace the role of local and national NGO space. This total process reflects the deficiency of the Rohingya aid structure, that do not give access to local and national NGOs with local concern, its oligarchic and its represent elite class in aid business.

Around three decades ago, while I was working in NRDP / DANIDA project, I was visited by the then UNDP country director Walter Sholzautsen, on that visit he mentioned one statement, ie, donors and INGOs are the new Zaminders of Bangladesh. But now the reality has change, Manish, Sumitra and UNHCR you must remind that, we will not accept your Zamindari / Colonial approach anymore.