Civil society leaders and humanitarian experts across the Asia-Pacific have stressed the critical need to protect and support the Rohingya refugee in Bangladesh and beyond until their safe, dignitary and voluntary repatriation to Myanmar.

They urged the UN agencies, INGOs, governments and humanitarian actors to press for political solutions including repatriation and strengthen rights and facilities for the Rohingya, including access to higher education, income-generating activities, travel passes, bank accounts, and the construction of prefabricated shelters in the camps.

The call was made during an international seminar organized by the COAST Foundation and Cox’s Bazar CSO-NGO Forum (CCNF) at the Asia-Pacific Regional Humanitarian Partnership Week (RHPW) 2025 in Bangkok today. The RHPW has been organized by ADRRN, CWSA, ICVA and UN OCHA.

The seminar, titled "Facilitating Rohingya refugee and citizenship rights," featured a hybrid format with over 100 participants from across the Asia-Pacific and beyond.

Md. Iqbal Uddin, Joint Director of COAST Foundation in Bangladesh, presented the keynote and moderated the seminar.

Distinguished speakers across the globe also include Debbie Stothard from ALTSEAN-Burma, Hafsar Tamizuddin from Asia-Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN) in Bangkok; Marko Miljevic and Amir Hossain from NGO Platform in Cox’s Bazar, Khair Ullah from Resilient Refugee Alliance in Bangladesh, Takashi Komino from the Asian Disaster Reduction and Response Network (ADRRN), Sanjiv Bhanja from Tearfund Asia, Helal Uddin from Agrajatra Banglasesh, and Yesmin Ullah from Rohingya Maiyafuinor Collaborative Network in Canada.

In his keynote, Md. Iqbal Uddin said the Myanmar authorities illegally revoked the Rohingya citizenship in 1982. Their citizenship must be reinstated and facilitation of their citizenship needs political commitment and shared responsibility.

He also calls for other actors to strengthen support for the Roninga refugees and ensure their basic needs are met. Other speakers pressed the urgent need for regional and global political action to hold the Myanmar Junta accountable and ensure repatriation and full citizenship for the Rohingya.

Debbie Stothard said we should treat the Rohingya as human, and their root causes should be addressed to bring their citizenship back.

Hafsar Tamizuddin thanks the Bangaldesh government for bringing back the Rohingya issue to the table, but a negative narrative is being intentionally created for the Rohingya. She urged providing access to education for the Rohingya and basic facilities.

Marko Miljevic said the NGO Platform is working tirelessly to improve the Rohingya’s condition. Rohingya is a global issue now and we need political commitment to resolve this.

Khair Ullah underscored for a travel pass and free movement. Yesmin Ullah said if the Rohingya people failed, our global initiative will be faild.

She criticized, saying that trade is increasing rather than sanctions against the Myanmar junta.

Takashi Komino said it’s a shame that countries are not showing their responsibilities, rather bypassing the Rohingya rights and repatriation issues. It is against our moral and political commitment.

Sanjiv Bhanja said there is a decline of campaigns and advocacy for Rohingya rights and repatriation. We need to work together to keep the issue alive until their repatriation.

Helal Uddin said it’s a global issue; everyone has to share the responsibility to solve it.