III. Responses by the Former Government of Bangladesh and the U.N. Refugee Agency 56 In addition to physical protection concerns, Rohingya refugees reported a lack of access to services, including mental health services.284 Refugees residing in the transit centers can only access mental health practitioners who visit the centers on weekdays or through referrals to treatment outside the transit centers.285 A Rohingya human rights defender forced to move to a transit center in November 2022 due to threats by ARSA described the challenges in obtaining mental health support, saying: “As we cannot go out, where is psychosocial support available? I cannot find any mental health facility here. So, I requested if UNHCR can help to get access [to] psychological support for [my] mother and sister, but it [has been] more than three months now [without any referral].”286 A 56-year-old Rohingya refugee woman and mother of seven children living in the transit center for two months told Fortify Rights: “I have a daughter in Balukhali Camp. I cannot go to visit her. ... [W]e cry and lose all the water in our eyes by crying every day about what will happen in our future.”287 Third-Country Resettlement In September 2024, a month after being sworn is as the chief advisor to Bangladesh’s interim government, Dr. Muhammad Yunus expressed a vision for a “resettlement process” for refugees in Bangladesh that would be “easy, regular, and smooth.”288 Under the former Sheikh Hasina regime, despite offers from governments to accept Rohingya refugees, Dhaka refused to permit refugees to resettle to third countries—an apparent misguided strategy to prevent drawing refugees to Cox’s Bazar.289 However, in 2021, Hasina’s government committed to the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR)—a U.N. framework to promote sustainable solutions to refugee situations through “more predictable and equitable responsibility-sharing” among U.N. member states.290 Part of the GCR objectives includes expanding access to third-country resettlement. Following this commitment, Hasina’s government allowed the resettlement of Mayyu Ali, a Rohingya poet and human rights defender who worked with Fortify Rights and other international human rights groups as a consultant, and his wife and child—the first known official resettlement of a Rohingya refugee to take place since 2010. Fortify Rights and other human rights groups advocated for his resettlement for years, given increased threats to his safety by ARSA.291 Other refugees seeking resettlement have since followed, but in limited numbers.292 According to UNHCR resettlement data, between 2022 and 2024, Bangladesh authorities, UNHCR, and governments with resettlement programs have facilitated third-country resettlement for more than 3,500 Rohingya refugees. The data from 2021 does not display on the data finder, however, Fortify Rights is aware of Rohingya being resettled that year.293 284 Fortify Rights interview with Z.G., Cox’s Bazar District, Bangladesh, November 19, 2022; Fortify Rights interview with Z.D., Cox’s Bazar District, Bangladesh, March 13, 2023; Fortify Rights communication with Bangladesh researcher, Cox’s Bazar District, Bangladesh, March 10, 2023. 285 Fortify Rights communication with UNHCR, March 2023. 286 Fortify Rights interview with Z.G., Cox’s Bazar District, Bangladesh, November 19, 2022. 287 Fortify Rights interview with A.C., Cox’s Bazar District, Bangladesh, September 6, 2022. 288 Ruma Paul, “Bangladesh Calls for Faster Resettlement Process for Rohingya,” Reuters, September 8, 2024, https:// www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/bangladesh-calls-faster-resettlement-process-rohingya-2024-09-08/. 289 UNHCR, “Resettlement Data Finder,” website, https://rsq.unhcr.org/en/. See also, John Quinley, “A Roadmap to Protect Refugees,” Dhaka Tribune, December 15, 2023, https://www.dhakatribune.com/opinion/op-ed/333931/a-roadmap-toprotect-refugees. 290 The Global Compact on Refugees, “About,” website, https://globalcompactrefugees.org/about-digital-platform/ global-compact-refugees. 291 Fortify Rights communication with Mayyu Ali, August 2021. 292 “14 More Family Members of Mohib Ullah Going to Canada,” Dhaka Tribune, September 27, 2022, https://www. dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2022/09/26/14-more-family-members-of-mohib-ullah-going-to-canada. 293 UNHCR, “Resettlement Data Finder,” website, https://rsq.unhcr.org/. On December 13, 2022, the U.S. government announced the establishment of a resettlement program for Rohingya refugees in collaboration with Bangladesh and UNHCR as part of its global U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. United States Department of State, “Resettlement