United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived in Dhaka on March 13 with a packed schedule till his departure on the 16th, the highlight of which was going to be his visit to the Rohingya camps the next day. But he was far from indifferent to the pivotal moment facing the country, as it navigates a period of significant transition and reform.

During his visit, the UN chief recognised people's hopes for a future of greater democracy, justice and prosperity in Bangladesh as the country undergoes a 'significant transition' under the leadership of Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus.

"This is a pivotal moment for Bangladesh and the international community must play its part in supporting your efforts toward a just, inclusive and prosperous future," he told reporters at a joint briefing at a city hotel together with Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, on the eve of his departure.

As the country undergoes important reforms and transitions, Guterres assured that the UN stands ready to assist in fostering peace, national dialogue, trust and healing.

"You can count on the UN to be your steadfast partner, working alongside the people of Bangladesh to help build a sustainable and equitable future for all," said the UN chief.

He underscored Bangladesh's extraordinary generosity in responding to the Rohingya crisis. The Secretary-General said as they come together in this sacred month of Ramadan, it is more important than ever to focus on solidarity and shared humanity.

In this spirit, he said, they will continue standing with the people of Bangladesh as 'you navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead'.

"I am deeply honoured to share this moment with you. May this Ramadan bring peace, blessings, and renewed hope to all," Guterres said.

For years, he said, the people of this nation, especially the communities in Cox's Bazar, have hosted over a million refugees fleeing violence and persecution. By offering Rohingya refugees sanctuary, Bangladesh has demonstrated solidarity and human dignity, often at significant social, environmental and economic cost, he said.

"The world must not take this generosity for granted. I will continue to urge the international community to take greater responsibility and provide the necessary financial and political support for both the refugees and their host communities," Guterres said.

In Cox's Bazar the day before, he mentioned that they are on the verge of a deep humanitarian crisis. "With the announced cuts in financial assistance, we are facing the dramatic risk of having only 40 per cent in 2025 of the resources available for humanitarian aid in 2024," Guterres said.

This would have terrible consequences, starting with the drastic reduction of food rations, he said.

"That would be an unmitigated disaster. People will suffer and people will die. I strongly appeal to the international community to allow us to avoid this tragedy," Guterres said.

The United Nations is fully committed to working with Bangladesh and others in finding a lasting solution to the Rohingya crisis that enables their safe, voluntary, dignified, and sustainable return to Myanmar, he said.

Planning is also well underway by UN Member States for a High-Level Conference on the situation of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar.

"We know the situation there continues to deteriorate. The escalation of violence and human rights violations across Myanmar, including in Rakhine State, are causing civilian casualties and driving displacement internally and across borders," Guterres said.

He called on all parties in Myanmar to exercise maximum restraint, prioritize the protection of civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law, and prevent further incitement of communal tension and violence - paving the way for democracy to take root.

A ringing endorsement

Guterres joined a roundtable discussion on reform proposals participated by representatives of political parties, National Consensus Building Commission and other stakeholders.

UN Under Secretary General Rabab Fatima, who is on deputation from Bangladesh, Bangladesh's Law Adviser Dr Asif, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed and representatives of other political parties, Prof Ali Riaz, and Dr Iftekharuzzaman also took part in the meeting.

The previous day, before visiting the Rohingyas, he held a formal 1-on-1 meeting with the chief adviser, during which he pledged UN support to Bangladesh to build a sustainable and equitable future for all.

"As the country undergoes important reforms and transitions, you can count on the UN to help build a sustainable and equitable future for all," he said after his meeting with Dr Yunus at the Chief Adviser's Office in the morning.

The UN chief thanked Dr Yunus, the interim government and the people of Bangladesh for their warm welcome. The UN Secretary-General and Dr Yunus discussed the issues of mutual interests, including the Rohingya refugee crisis.

Guterres expressed his full support for the reform process initiated by Bangladesh's interim government and voiced concerns for declining humanitarian aid for more than a million Rohingya refugees living in the country's southeast.

The UN chief reaffirmed the UN's commitment to Dhaka's reform agenda and voiced his concerns for "one of the most discriminated peoples" in the world during the meeting.

"I want to express our total commitment to the reform process. We are here to support your reforms. We wish you all the best. Whatever we can do, let us know," the UN Secretary General told Professor Yunus during his hour-long meeting.

He hoped that the reforms would lead to a free and fair election and a "real transformation" of the country. "I know the process of reforms can be complex," he said.

Guterres said he was also here to express solidarity with Myanmar's forcibly displaced Rohingya people during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

"I've never seen a population so discriminated against. The International community is forgetting the Rohingya," the UN Secretary General said as he voiced his deep concern over declining humanitarian aid for the 1.2 million Rohingya refugees who live in camps in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar district.

"(Aid) cuts are a crime," he said, adding that Western nations were now doubling up on defense spending while humanitarian aid is squeezed across the globe.

Guterres also expressed the UN's "enormous gratitude" to Bangladesh for hosting the Rohingya refugees. "Bangladesh has been extremely generous to the Rohingya people."

"Rohingyas are a special case for me," he added.

Yunus thanked the UN Secretary General for visiting the country at such a crucial time. "You couldn't come at a better time. Your visit is timely not only for the Rohingya people but also for Bangladesh," he said.

The Chief Adviser briefed Guterres about the reform process, saying about 10 political parties have already submitted their responses to the reports of the six reform commissions constituted by the interim government.

He said once the parties agreed to the recommendations of the six commissions, they would sign a July Charter, which would be the blueprint for the country's democratic transition and implementation of the political, judicial, electoral, administrative, anti-corruption and police reforms.

He also said elections could be held in December provided the political parties agreed to "a short package" of reforms, but it will be held by June next year if the parties settled for "a larger package" of reforms.

The CA reaffirmed his commitment to holding "free, fair and participatory elections."

Yunus sought the support of the Secretary General for the dignified return of the Rohingyas to their homeland in the western Rakhine state in Myanmar and in the meantime mobilising adequate food and humanitarian assistance for the 1.2 million refugees.

"We are trying to raise attention to the plight of the Rohingya people. The world should know how they are suffering. There is a feeling of frustration," he said.

The UN Secretary General said he would do his best to resolve the Rohingya crisis and would try to mobilise support for them, giving priority to the Rohingyas. Guterres lauded the contribution of the Bangladesh peacekeeping forces in maintaining peace and stability in some of the troubled corners of the world.

"Bangladesh peacekeeping forces are very important for us," the UN Secretary General said, adding their engagements have been "extraordinary", and "added that Bangladesh acts in the frontline for a fairer world."

Yunus too praised the Bangladesh peacekeepers, saying Bangladesh military gets unique exposure in these assignments. "The deployments mean a lot to us," he said.

Geopolitics and the status of Saarc and Bangladesh's relationships with neighbours are also featured in the talks, with Yunus highlighting his efforts to revive the South Asian regional forum.

He said Bangladesh also wants to become a member of Asean in an effort to boost trade and investment with the Southeast Asian nations.

The Chief Adviser also highlighted his proposal to create a South Asia grid involving Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and India to tap and import huge Hydropower from the Himalayan nations.

He said Bangladesh was building a series of ports in the country's Chittagong region in a bid to transform the country into "an economic hub", connecting Bangladesh with the landlocked countries of Nepal and Bhutan and India's Northeastern region.

CA Yunus said the interim government has been fully supported by almost every country in the world, including the United States, European Union, China and Japan.

About the state of the economy, the Chief Adviser said his government has inherited a ruined economy with a broken banking sector, dwindling reserves and destroyed institutions.

"The economy has now been solidified. Exports have been growing for months. Foreign exchange reserves are also better," he said.

Yunus said Bangladesh economy has made a turnaround to an extent that the interim government has now decided to go ahead with graduation from the LDC group next year, after initially being against it.

"We are taking full preparations for LDC graduation," he said.

The chief adviser also outlined his government's efforts to bring back tens of billions of dollars stolen by the leadership and cronies of the previous government. He said some $234 billion dollars have been siphoned off during the 16-year-long dictatorship.

"We are trying to get back the money. But this is a complex and lengthy process," he said.

The UN Secretary General said that it all reminded him of his time during the revolutionary days of 1974 in Portugal, when he was part of the movement that brought down the last military dictatorship in Europe.

Shine a light

During his visit to the Rohingya refugee camps in southern Bangladesh, Guterres emphasised that his visit, which took place during the holy month of Ramadan, was a mission of solidarity with the Rohingya refugees and the Bangladeshi people who generously host them.

"I am here to shine a global spotlight on the plight - but also the potential - of Rohingya refugees," he said.

"The more than one million Rohingya refugees here are proud. They are resilient. And they need the world's support."

He praised the support offered by Bangladesh and local communities who have shared their land, forests, water and resources with the refugees, calling it nothing short of "enormous."

"It is essential that the international community does everything to make sure that peace is reestablished in Myanmar and that the rights of the Rohingyas are respected, that discrimination and persecution like the one we have witnessed in the past, will end."

He stressed that the solution to the crisis "must be found in Myanmar."

"We will not give up until conditions allow for the voluntary, safe and sustainable return for all refugees here."

Guterres also highlighted the dire conditions in the camps, worsened by climate change.

"These camps - and the communities that host them - are on the frontlines of the climate crisis. Summers are scorching, and the chance of fires skyrocket. In the cyclone and monsoon seasons, floods and dangerous landslides destroy homes and lives," he said.

Beyond immediate aid, he stressed the need for education, skills training and opportunities for the refugees, warning that many families feel they have no option but to risk perilous sea journeys in search of a better future.

Guterres ended his visit to Cox's Bazar by participating in an Iftar meal with Rohingya refugees.

"Fasting and having an Iftar together with you are proof of my deep respect for your religion and your culture," he said.

"This is the holy month of Ramadan, the month of solidarity. It would be unacceptable that in the month of solidarity, the international community would reduce the support to the Rohingyas in Bangladesh," he added, stressing that he would do everything to ensure it does not happen.

Additional reporting by AKM Moinuddin