The Cross-Party Group (CPG) on Bangladesh at the Scottish Parliament held a crucial meeting in Edinburgh on June 3 to address the worsening Rohingya refugee crisis in Bangladesh, particularly in light of sharp international aid reductions. Hosted by MSPs Faisal Chowdhury and Miles Briggs, the meeting brought together diplomats, academics, diaspora leaders, and humanitarian organizations to discuss the escalating humanitarian needs in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char, where over 1 million Rohingya currently reside.
Bangladesh’s Assistant High Commissioner in Manchester, Md. Jobayed Hossain, highlighted the growing social and economic burden on host communities. Speakers from ActionAid UK and the UN World Food Programme warned of severe funding shortages, which have already slashed food rations, mental health services, and education for children in the camps.
Participants expressed alarm over the lack of global attention and declining aid—especially from USAID—urging immediate international intervention. Faisal Chowdhury reaffirmed the CPG’s commitment to advocacy, stating the group is determined to prevent the crisis from being forgotten and to promote stronger UK-Bangladesh cooperation.
The meeting also included the announcement of the UK’s first Rohingya memorial stone, to be unveiled in Bradford this August, as a symbol of remembrance and solidarity. The session closed with updates on diaspora-led initiatives focused on youth leadership, education, and climate justice, underscoring the enduring partnership between Scotland and Bangladesh.
