Good morning. 

I want to thank Chief Adviser Yunus, Foreign Adviser Hossain, the interim government and the people of Bangladesh for your warm welcome. 

And I want to send my heartfelt greetings to Muslims across Bangladesh and around the world observing the Holy Month of Ramadan.

Ramadan is a time of reflection, spiritual renewal, and unity.

Every year, I undertake a solidarity visit and spend time with Muslim communities living in difficult circumstances, to observe the fast with them, and to help shine a global spotlight on their plight. 

This year, I decided to come to Bangladesh to express my solidarity with Rohingya refugees and the Bangladeshi people that host them.

Fasting and having an Iftar together with the Bangladesh communities and Rohingya communities are the proof of my deep respect for the religion and the culture they represent.

And I had an extremely moving visit to Cox’s Bazar yesterday.

Ramadan reminds us of the universal values that connect humanity: compassion, empathy, and generosity.

Bangladesh is a living symbol of these values through your commitment to peace, development, and humanitarian relief.

Bangladesh is among the largest contributors to United Nations peacekeeping.

I want to pay tribute to the sacrifices and dedication of Bangladeshi peacekeepers, who serve in some of the most difficult and dangerous environments in the world.

I am particularly pleased to be in Bangladesh at this important moment in your national journey.

As the country undergoes a significant transition under the leadership of Chief Adviser Yunus, I recognize the people’s hopes for a future of greater democracy, justice, and prosperity.

This is a pivotal moment for Bangladesh, and the international community must play its part in supporting your efforts towards a just, inclusive, and prosperous future.

As the country undergoes important reforms and transitions, I want to assure you that the UN stands ready to assist in fostering peace, national dialogue, trust and healing.

You can count on the UN to be your steadfast partner, working alongside the Government and the people of Bangladesh to help build a sustainable and equitable future for all.

Ladies and gentlemen of the media,

I want to underscore Bangladesh’s extraordinary generosity in responding to the Rohingya crisis.

It is a testament to your enduring humanitarian spirit.

For years, the people of this nation, especially the communities in Cox’s Bazar, have hosted over a million refugees fleeing violence and persecution.

By offering Rohingya refugees sanctuary, Bangladesh has demonstrated solidarity and human dignity, often at significant social, environmental and economic cost.

The world must not take this generosity for granted.

I will continue to urge the international community to take greater responsibility and provide the necessary financial and political support for both the refugees and their host communities.

But as I mentioned yesterday in Cox’s Bazaar, we are on the verge of a deep humanitarian crisis.

With the announced cuts in financial assistance, we are facing the dramatic risk of having only 40 per cent in 2025 of the resources available for humanitarian aid in 2024. This would have terrible consequences, starting with the drastic reduction of food rations.

That would be an unmitigated disaster. People would suffer and people would die.

I strongly appeal to the international community to allow us to avoid this tragedy.

More funding is absolutely essential to guarantee the minimum support to the Rohingya population in Bangladesh.

The United Nations is fully committed to working with Bangladesh and others in finding a lasting solution to the Rohingya crisis that enables their safe, voluntary, dignified, and sustainable return to Myanmar as all the Rohingyas I met yesterday expressed to me.

I know that planning is also underway by UN Member States for a High-Level Conference on the situation of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar. 

We know the situation there continues to deteriorate. The escalation of violence and human rights violations across Myanmar, including in Rakhine State, are causing civilian casualties and driving displacement internally and across borders. 

I call on all parties in Myanmar to exercise maximum restraint, prioritize the protection of civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law, and prevent further incitement of communal tension and violence – paving the way for democracy to take root and creation of conditions for the dignified return of the Rohingya community.

Ladies and gentlemen of the media,

As we come together in this sacred month of Ramadan, it is more important than ever to focus on solidarity and shared humanity.
 
In this spirit, we will continue standing with the people of Bangladesh as you navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Once again, I am deeply honoured to share this moment with you.

May this Ramadan bring peace, blessings, and renewed hope to all.

And I thank you. 

***

Question: My question is for you Excellency, the UN Secretary-General. As you mentioned, there is an escalation of violence in Myanmar, particularly in Rakhine, and our Foreign Advisor also have mentioned […] But my question is that how do you address a famine-like situation in Rakhine. Do you think this instability in Rakhine, by any way, will affect respectful, peaceful and dignified repatriation of Rohingyas?  What is your take on the issue?

Secretary-General: The present situation is a situation in which there is heavy fighting between the Myanmar army and the Arakan army, and obviously in these circumstances it would be extremely difficult to have an immediate, dignified return of the Rohingya refugees.  It is absolutely essential to mobilize the whole international community, all the neighbours of Bangladesh, all the neighbours of Myanmar, to put pressure to make things move in relation to the need to find a solution, starting by ceasing the violence and at the same time, creating the mechanisms of dialogue leading to a true democratic solution in Myanmar that would naturally facilitate the return of the Rohingya refugees. At the same time, we need to intensify the humanitarian aid inside Myanmar to create the conditions for that return to be successful. And that is the reason why one of the discussions we had was about the possibility, if the circumstances allow, to have also humanitarian aid channeled from Bangladesh. But that is, obviously, a matter that would require the authorization and the cooperation of the parties to the conflict.

Question: I’m from the Financial Express. My question is that the UN envoys who visited Dhaka recently, they told us that they're in touch with all the stakeholders of the crisis. I mean including the Arakan army. So, do you think that the Arakan army is more favourable in resolving the Rohingya crisis repatriation? And my second question is, when you talk about the international pressure on Myanmar, do you suggest more vigorous sanctions like the Europeans do against Russia or elsewhere, against Myanmar? Thank you.

Secretary-General: First of all, the Arakan army is an entity with which, I believe, a necessary dialogue must take place. We know that in the past, the relations between the Rakhine and the Rohingya communities were not easy, and so, I think it's important to engage the Arakan army in order for the full respect of the rights of the Rohingya population in Rakhine. In relation to, the second question was?

Question: On sanctions against Myanmar.

Secretary-General: I believe that sanctions are one possible instrument. Of course we would need, and it is difficult to obtain, a Security Council approval for sanctions in relation to Myanmar, but those sanctions not being possible, I think it's essential to increase the pressure of all the neighbours in relation to Myanmar, in order to guarantee that the fighting ends and that a way towards democracy is finally established.