Having been a generous host to nearly a million Rohingya refugees for more than 18 months, Bangladesh has now told the UN Security Council that it will no longer be in a position to accommodate more.

Expressing his country’s frustration that nothing concrete has yet happened to ensure safe return of the Rohingya to Myanmar, Bangladesh’s foreign secretary Shahidul Haque told the UNSC, "I regret to inform the council that Bangladesh would no longer be in a position to accommodate more people from Myanmar."

He said the idea of long-term hosting by Bangladesh is not at all a viable proposition, adding that the problem “originates in Myanmar, its solution must be found in Myanmar and by Myanmar”.

“Not a single Rohingya has volunteered to return to Rakhine due to the absence of a conducive environment there”, Mr Haque told the 15-member Council on Thursday (Mar 1).

"As far as repatriation is concerned, the situation has gone from bad to worse. Even if repatriation began today, it would take another 12 years based on an estimated 300 Rohingyas returning every day,” he said.

Mr Haque called it unfortunate that Myanmar was trying to shift the blame, accusing Bangladesh of harbouring terrorists when, in reality, his Government has a zero-tolerance policy in this regard.

Earlier, the Security Council was briefed by Christine Schraner Burgener, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Myanmar, on her recent visits to that country, as well as to Bangladesh and other destinations in the region.

She warned the council that tensions and continued violence in Mynamar—including, but not limited to, the recent crisis in Rakhine state—could derail the gains made in the country’s peace process.

Echoing sentiments similar to that of Foreign Secretary Haque, she said: “While Bangladesh and host communities have been very generous, we cannot expect this to continue indefinitely.”

Calling for an end to violence, and unfettered humanitarian access, she emphasised that the recently launched United Nations Joint Response Plan for 2019 — aimed at supporting both refugees and host communities — requires urgent funding.

As Council members took the floor, some stressed that insufficient action has been taken by the Government of Myanmar to improve the situation in Rakhine State — thereby allowing for the safe, voluntary and dignified return of refugees.

Several called for the prompt and full implementation of the recommendations of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State, known as the Annan Report, and the memorandum of understanding agreed between the Government and several United Nations entities.

Some also warned that if justice is not delivered to victims of serious crimes, the Council has the power to refer the situation to the International Criminal Court.