SRINAGAR: Bangladesh and Malaysia made urgent appeals at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) ministerial meetings in Istanbul for intensified legal and humanitarian action on the Rohingya crisis, warning of a dramatic collapse in aid and mounting displacement driven by conflict in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, reports appearing in Bangladeshi and Malysian newspapers said.
Bangladesh’s Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain called upon OIC member states to fund ongoing legal proceedings against Myanmar at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and to address a deepening aid shortfall that has crippled support for more than 1.3 million Rohingya refugees sheltering in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char.
“Due to insufficient funding, humanitarian assistance for the Rohingyas has been severely disrupted,” Hossain said during a session titled “Human rights violations against the Rohingya.” “UNICEF has shut down its education programme since June 3. WFP has cut food rations twice. This trend is alarming.”
In 2025, international donors have contributed only 21 per cent of the required $934 million, according to Bangladesh’s foreign office — a sharp drop from the 68 per cent of needs met in 2024, reflecting a dangerous erosion of global support.
Hossain also urged OIC members to extend financial support to The Gambia, which is leading the genocide case against Myanmar at the ICJ on behalf of the Muslim world. “Ensuring justice will boost the confidence of the Rohingyas to return to Myanmar,” he said. “Now The Gambia will need our full solidarity, support and cooperation.”
Since November 2023, Bangladesh has witnessed the arrival of 118,000 additional Rohingyas fleeing fresh waves of violence. Hossain described the situation as “unsustainable” and warned that local communities, already burdened by the prolonged crisis, face growing economic, environmental and security pressures.
Citing intelligence from the border, he noted that the Arakan Army now controls most of Rakhine, including the entire stretch of the Myanmar-Bangladesh border, where fighting with the Myanmar military has intensified since the junta’s 2021 coup. As of May 2025, approximately 587,000 people are internally displaced in Rakhine, contributing to the region’s volatility.
Malaysia, speaking as the current ASEAN Chair, also called for closer coordination between ASEAN and the OIC to address both the humanitarian disaster and the structural roots of the crisis.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan told the OIC Contact Group on the Rohingya that Malaysia is prioritising inclusive political dialogue, a cessation of violence, and scaled-up humanitarian relief.
“Malaysia is committed to a constructive approach,” he said. “We have already deployed 30 tonnes of humanitarian aid, sent in the SMART disaster response team, and set up a field hospital in Sagaing — one of the worst-affected areas after the March 28 earthquake.”
Malaysia’s foreign minister noted that conflicting parties in Myanmar had declared a temporary unilateral ceasefire, but urged the OIC to push for a permanent cessation of hostilities to allow safe and effective aid distribution.
“Rebuilding trust among stakeholders is essential for a durable solution,” he said, adding that Malaysia’s Special Envoy has been tasked with engaging all parties in Myanmar inclusively.
Both countries welcomed the OIC’s adoption of a resolution on the plight of the Rohingyas. They backed a proposal for a High-Level Conference on the Situation of Rohingya Muslims and Other Minorities in Myanmar, scheduled for September 30, 2025, in New York, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Dhaka said it expected robust participation from OIC countries.
“For the Rohingya community, Bangladesh has done its part–perhaps more than its share,” said Hossain. “Our call today is not just for charity, but also for justice, solidarity, and shared accountability.”
