Press Release
19 October, 2026, 12:25 pm
Last modified: 19 October, 2026, 12:37 pm
Inclusive policies, community participation and stronger collaboration are essential to advancing social cohesion and building lasting peace between Rohingya refugees and host communities, speakers said at an ActionAid Bangladesh dialogue in Cox's Bazar on Sunday.
ActionAid Bangladesh organised the dialogue, titled "Peacebuilding and Social Cohesion: Context and Opportunities", at the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner's (RRRC) conference room on 18 October, according to the press release.
Held under the "Youth-Led Peacebuilding and Social Cohesion Initiatives in Bangladesh and Myanmar" project, the event brought together government representatives, UN agencies, national and international NGOs, civil society organisations and local networks to discuss challenges and opportunities for peaceful coexistence.
Speakers emphasised that building lasting peace requires more than humanitarian assistance, with mutual trust and inclusive community engagement also central to an effective response.
Delivering the keynote paper, Professor Nasir Uddin of the Department of Anthropology at the University of Chittagong highlighted the importance of addressing relationships between Rohingya refugees and host communities alongside humanitarian needs.
"Both peacebuilding and social cohesion are fundamental components of a meaningful and workable response to the ongoing Rohingya refugee crisis in Bangladesh. It is undeniable that humanitarian assistance is essential, but it is equally important to address the dynamics of social relationships between refugees and host communities," he said.
Deputy Secretary Md Shariful Islam, representing the RRRC, delivered the concluding remarks. He highlighted the challenges of balancing administrative responsibilities with humanitarian needs and stressed the importance of understanding the realities of both refugees and host communities.
"Balancing administrative responsibilities with humanitarian needs can be challenging. Working with Rohingya refugees has helped me better understand the challenges they face in the camps, including protection concerns and the needs of women, children and older people. Understanding the realities of both Rohingya refugees and host communities is important to building mutual trust and social harmony," he said.
Participants exchanged experiences, discussed good practices and explored opportunities for stronger collaboration to address shared challenges, reinforce community resilience and promote peaceful coexistence.
Abdullah Al Raihan, lead of the Rohingya Response Programme at ActionAid Bangladesh, and project managers from the organisation also attended the dialogue.
ActionAid is an international development organisation working to advance social justice, gender equality and human rights. Founded in 1972, it began working in Bangladesh in 1983 following the devastating cyclone and tidal surge in Char Fasson, Bhola.
For more than four decades, the organisation has worked to promote rights-based development and lasting social change. Since the Rohingya influx in 2017, it has also worked alongside Rohingya refugees and host communities in Cox's Bazar to address humanitarian needs and strengthen community resilience.