UN chief to host Iftar in Bangladesh, set to meet Rohingya refugees; Full schedule inside

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived in Dhaka on Friday in the face of increasing anxiety for Bangladesh's human and political crisis. Bangladesh was not peaceful since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. It is now up to Guterres to investigate the fate of over a million Rohingya refugees who came to Bangladesh after being forced out of Myanmar.

UN has also been worried that the new policy revisions by the former US President Donald Trump can have an impact on the release of aid to the Rohingya community. A probable reduction in humanitarian aid can have severe effects on the already persecuted refugees.

Solidarity visit during Ramadan

Upon his arrival in Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Bangladesh, Guterres was greeted by the Foreign Affairs Advisor of Bangladesh, Mohammad Tauhid Hussain. He was afterward led to Intercontinental Hotel, Dhaka, to begin official engagements. He visited on 13-16 March as a part of "Ramadan Solidarity Tour" in order to demonstrate solidarity to humanitarian activities conducted during the sacred period, read a statement provided by the UN.

Scheduled meetings and refugee camp visit

With the overthrow of Sheikh Hasina by force after street protests, Bangladesh has been beset by political turmoil. Guterres, while on a visit to Dhaka, is expected to meet Chief Advisor Mohammad Yunus and give an Iftar party as a gesture of solidarity with Muslim individuals.

Following his operations in Dhaka, the UN Secretary-General will proceed to Cox's Bazar to take a tour of one of the largest refugee camps in the world accommodating the Rohingya. In doing so, he will meet with displaced Rohingya families and assess their state, thus bringing the UN closer to protecting their welfare and rights.

International concern over Rohingya crisis

The Guterres visit is representative of the continued interest of the UN in the humanitarian crisis situation of the Rohingya community and in the global interest in assistance. As Bangladesh's internal political configurations change, the international community stays keenly attentive to how relief operations in the country will be affected.