Over 90,000 Muslim Rohingya, an ethnic minority in predominantly Buddhist Burma, have been displaced in recent weeks after sectarian violence broke out in Burma's Rakhine State.

Many of the Rohingya are fleeing to neighbouring Bangladesh in search of medical aid, food and shelter, but the Bangladeshi government has so far refused to let them in. Instead, thousands have been pushed back to Burma, where the Rohingya population has been persecuted for over 30 years.

On June 13, Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Dipu Moni said Bangladesh was not willing to take in the Rohingyas, despite international calls and the UNHCR appealing to Bangladesh to let them in.

“We’re already burdened with thousands of Rohingya refugees staying in Bangladesh and we don’t want anymore,” said the foreign minister.

The reason for not taking the Rohingya in, according to the Bangladesh government, is that the country does not have the resources to take in any more refugees.

Over 200,000 Rohingya refugees are already believed to be living in Bangladesh.

Misha Hussain is a journalist covering aid, development and human rights. Click here to follow him on Twitter.

Opinion

Editorial

Budget presser
Updated 14 Jun, 2026

Budget presser

If the FBR falters, the government will find itself in hot water sooner rather than later.
Muharram precautions
14 Jun, 2026

Muharram precautions

WITH Muharram due to start next week, the authorities have already begun annual exercises to ensure that the ...
Blood bequests
14 Jun, 2026

Blood bequests

WORLD Blood Donor Day offers a moment of “gratitude, advocacy and renewed commitment” for thalassaemia patients...
Sustainable path?
Updated 13 Jun, 2026

Sustainable path?

The FY27 budget is the first clear signal that the government is ready to transition from stabilisation to growth.
Prioritising education
13 Jun, 2026

Prioritising education

THOUGH the improvement in the country’s literacy rate may be slight, as highlighted by the Economic Survey, it ...
Poverty’s rise
13 Jun, 2026

Poverty’s rise

AS attention turns to the government’s plans for the coming fiscal year, one set of figures deserves particular...