The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Kelley E. Currie, begins a visit to Bangladesh today, 11 November 2026, to assess the impact of the deteriorating human rights situation in Myanmar on its neighbour. The visit, announced by the UN Human Rights Office on 10 November, will run until 18 November.

During the eight days, Currie will focus on developments in Rakhine State and the wider armed conflict in Myanmar, the situation of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, and opportunities for future cooperation. She will meet government officials, civil society representatives, victims and survivors, and will visit Dhaka and the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox's Bazar district.

Why the visit matters now

Bangladesh hosts more than 1.2 million Rohingya refugees, according to figures cited by Bangladesh at the United Nations, and the protracted crisis continues to place a heavy burden on the country. The security situation across the border in Myanmar has worsened, with fighting in Rakhine State and reports of civilians being targeted in the conflict.

Currie has warned in recent weeks that Myanmar's military is deliberately attacking civilians to frighten them into submission, and that foreign arms purchases and aviation fuel supplies are helping to sustain the war. The UN Human Rights Office recorded at least 982 civilians killed in military airstrikes in 2025, including 232 children.

Her visit also comes days before a significant date for the Rohingya community. The International Court of Justice in The Hague is scheduled to deliver its judgment on 19 November in the case brought by The Gambia against Myanmar over alleged violations of the Genocide Convention, arising from the military crackdown against the Rohingya in 2016 and 2017.

Access to Myanmar refused

Currie has formally requested access for a country visit to Myanmar, but was informed by the military-backed authorities that they are not ready to accommodate a visit. Her Bangladesh trip is therefore the closest she can come to assessing conditions on the ground, by speaking to refugees who have fled across the border and to officials and aid workers dealing with the consequences.

The UN said she will hold a press conference on Wednesday, 18 November at 2pm local time at the UN House in Dhaka, for accredited journalists. She will present her next report to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2027.

What to watch during the visit

The visit to the camps in Cox's Bazar is likely to be the most closely watched part of the trip, as it will give Currie direct testimony from refugees about conditions in Rakhine State and about the risks they face. Aid agencies have warned that funding for the refugee response remains uncertain, and Bangladesh has stressed that prolonged displacement cannot become a permanent solution.

Currie's findings will feed into her March 2027 report to the Human Rights Council, and her visit will also be read alongside the International Court of Justice judgment expected the day after she leaves. For the refugees in Cox's Bazar, the visit is a reminder that their situation remains on the international agenda, even as attention shifts to other crises. Sources: UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) and The Business Standard.