Cox’s Bazar, 10 June 2026: The Rohingya crisis has now entered its ninth year. Since 2017, the Government of Bangladesh, local communities, national and international NGOs, and UN agencies have provided critical humanitarian assistance to approximately 1.2 million Rohingya refugees living in Cox’s Bazar. To coordinate this response, a Joint Response Plan (JRP) has been developed annually. However, local stakeholders expressed concern that Local NGOs have been excluded from the implementation framework of the JRP 2026. Speakers at a press conference organized by the Cox’s Bazar CSO NGO Forum (CCNF) at the Cox’s Bazar Press Club today stated that the exclusion of Local NGOs from JRP implementation is inconsistent with the localization commitments under the Grand Bargain, to which UNHCR is a signatory. The press conference, titled “UNHCR Must Prioritize Local NGOs in Partnership; 5% Allocation for Host Communities in the JRP Falls Short of Localization Commitments,” called for greater inclusion of local actors in humanitarian decision-making and implementation.
The speakers also criticized the limited space provided for local NGO representation during the JRP launch event, noting that a proposed speech by a Local NGO representative was not included, while representation was given through international NGOs. They emphasized that the JRP should be inclusive and ensure meaningful participation of local and national organizations alongside INGOs and UN agencies, in line with global localization commitments. In addition, the speakers proposed a “JRP 2.0” framework that would place greater emphasis on a clear roadmap for the safe, voluntary, and dignified repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar. The CCNF Chief Moderator, Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, moderated the event.
Distinguished speakers included Anjuman Ara from Protrisuty; Md. Iqbal Uddin, Md. Shahinur Islam and Taharima Afroze Tumpa from COAST Foundation; Newaj Md. Selim from Cox’s Bazar Tourism Industries and Cooperatives Limited.; Nurul Kabir from Rajapalong Union Parishad; Former panel chairman Muzaffar Ahmed from Palongkhali Union Parishad; Nurul Islam from Cox’s Bazar Literary Academy; Nasima Akhter from Cox’s Bazar Youth Forum; Jahanara Islam from Cox’s Bazar Women Chamber of Commerce and Mamotaz Uddin Bahari from Cox’s Bazar Press Club, along with other CCNF members and journalists from print and electronic media.
M Rezaul Karim Chowdhury reiterated the call for the safe, voluntary, and dignified repatriation of Rohingya refugees and urged the Rohingya community in camps to work together for peace, security, and well-being. He also called on the government and UN agencies to stop groundwater depletion by supplying treated water from the Naf River. Anjuman Ara expressed concern that the JRP 2026 had not been shared with stakeholders in advance, as was done in previous years, and urged the inclusion of Local NGOs and local government representatives in JRP implementation.
Md. Iqbal Uddin emphasized the need for a “JRP 2.0” focused on a clear roadmap for Rohingya repatriation. Md. Shahinur Islam said UNOCHA allocated $150 million US government funds, and 92% fund received by UN agencies and 8% by INGOs. It is against their localization commitment. The local organizations should be the appealing partners in JRP in the next allocation, he added. Taharima Afroz Tumpa questioned the practice of international representatives speaking on behalf of local stakeholders during the JRP launch, stressing the importance of local representation.
Nurul Kabir noted that only 5% of JRP 2026 funding has been allocated for host communities and called for increasing this share to 25–30% in line with government guidance. Muzaffar Ahmed highlighted the continued arrival of Rohingya refugees and its impact on local livelihoods, while Nurul Islam called for greater transparency in UN agencies’ expenditure. Nasima Akhter said one local NGO has been awarded 30-plus projects, while others have nothing. This monopoly and concentrated funding should be stopped. She urged more equitable funding opportunities for all local NGOs.
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