A three-day international stakeholders’ conference on the protracted Rohingya crisis concluded on Tuesday in Cox’s Bazar, marking a turning point in the refugee response: for the first time, key leadership from within the Rohingya community has been officially identified to guide future repatriation and reintegration efforts.
Held under the theme “Stakeholders’ Dialogue: Takeaways to the High-Level Conference on Rohingya Situation,” the event ran from 24–26 August and convened national and international policymakers, UN agencies, donor representatives, civil society actors, and—critically—members of the Rohingya refugee community.
“This conference has brought about the emergence of an effective Rohingya leadership and representation for the first time,” said Khalilur Rahman, the Bangladesh government’s High Representative on Rohingya Issues, at a press briefing on Monday night.
“Until now, there had been no specific voice for the Rohingya. These individuals are now recognised as legitimate representatives, capable of articulating the refugees’ demands and concerns both locally and internationally.”
The identification and recognition of five key Rohingya representatives during the dialogue were widely viewed as a landmark achievement.
Officials emphasised that this leadership group will serve as a vital bridge between the Rohingya community and authorities involved in repatriation negotiations with Myanmar and humanitarian coordination in Bangladesh.
One of these newly recognised leaders, Mohammad Rafiq, served as a moderator during the first session of the conference. Speaking to TIMES of Bangladesh, he confirmed the elected group’s commitment to working closely with both the government and international agencies.
“We now have a clearer sense of who the legitimate community leaders are—those who can credibly and constructively voice the aspirations of the Rohingya people,” he said.
Previously, Rohingya advocacy efforts had been fragmented and led by unrecognised, self-formed groups operating within Bangladesh and abroad. While such groups helped raise awareness of the crisis, their lack of formal recognition left the community without a unified and authoritative voice. This conference, according to organisers, changes that dynamic.
Throughout various sessions, delegates consistently underscored the need to empower Rohingya-led initiatives and rebuild trust among refugees, the host community, and international partners. Stakeholders agreed that any sustainable solution to the crisis must centre the voices of the Rohingya themselves.
In recognition of their newly affirmed leadership, government officials and international stakeholders jointly endorsed the five representatives as “appropriate and representative voices” for future dialogue. Their role will be central in ensuring repatriation plans are safe, voluntary, and conducted with dignity.
As a direct outcome of the conference, these developments will be submitted as key takeaways to an upcoming high-level international summit focused on resolving the Rohingya crisis.
On the final day of the conference, diplomats based in Dhaka, international organisation representatives, political leaders, and humanitarian experts visited several facilities inside the Rohingya camps.
These included the World Food Programme’s (WFP) food distribution centre, the UNHCR’s refugee services, and Friendship Hospital—highlighting ongoing humanitarian operations.
“The Rohingya population continues to grow while funding steadily declines,” warned Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, deputy press secretary to the chief adviser, during a media briefing at the camps.
He emphasised that a sustained flow of international funding is crucial—not only for the Rohingya community but for all humanitarian workers operating in the camps.
“If the funding gap widens, it won’t just be the refugees who suffer. The entire ecosystem of aid delivery will face immense strain,” he said.
As the Rohingya crisis enters its eighth year, the identification of internal leadership offers a renewed sense of direction and hope—anchoring future solutions in the voices of those most affected.