Prime Minister Tarique Rahman proposed a five-point action plan on 23 September at a UN side event during the General Assembly session in New York. Nine years after the 2017 exodus, Bangladesh still hosts more than 1.2 million Rohingya refugees. The big question is simple: can this plan finally break the deadlock?
What the Five Points Say
The plan covers five areas:
- A clear and credible roadmap for safe, voluntary and dignified return to Myanmar
- An end to violence against the Rohingya and other civilians in Myanmar
- Adequate and predictable humanitarian aid
- Justice and accountability as a base for lasting repatriation
- Stronger regional cooperation against drug trade, human trafficking, digital scams and illegal arms
Why the Timing Matters
Aid is shrinking while the crisis drags on. The 2025 joint appeal asked for more than $934 million, but the 2026 appeal was cut to about $710 million, which covers only minimum lifesaving needs. The prime minister said it is time to move from managing displacement to ending it, and warned that generosity should not become an excuse for doing nothing politically.
The Biggest Roadblock Is Myanmar
Bangladesh’s argument is that the crisis began in Myanmar, so the solution also lies there. That is exactly where the difficulty lies. Analysts point out that Myanmar’s military leadership appears to link repatriation to concessions on other issues. The accountability point is another sharp divide, since Bangladesh can negotiate on return while still backing international justice processes, and Myanmar’s leaders may not accept that approach.
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Preparing Refugees for Return
While diplomacy moves slowly, Bangladesh says it is preparing for eventual return. Children study the Myanmar curriculum in about 6,000 learning centres, and young people get skills training to help them restart life in Rakhine State. This shows Dhaka is planning for return, not permanent settlement.
A Strong Start, Not a Solution
The plan has real strengths. It is clear, it links return with safety and justice, and it puts the burden on the wider world instead of Bangladesh alone. But a roadmap is only as good as the pressure behind it. Without countries that have influence over Myanmar’s military, the plan risks staying on paper.
The deadlock will not break with one speech. It will break only if neighbours, major powers and the UN turn these five points into steady, measurable action. For more than a million people waiting in camps, that moment cannot come soon enough.
