Candidate 1: Mr Manish Kumar Agrawal
Concern Worldwide has been engaged in the Rohingya refugee response in Bangladesh since 2017. They operate in 16 Rohingya refugee camps in Ukhia and Teknaf. In January 2026, the organisation transitioned to a partnership-based operational model, currently working with one local NGO (SHED) and one national NGO (Gonoshasthaya Kendra – GK). The Bangladesh team comprises 45 staff members, with 40 based in Dhaka and 5 in Cox’s Bazar.
Manish has been working on the Rohingya refugee response since early 2018. Since January 2026, he has been temporarily representing INGOs in the Rohingya Coordination Team (RCT). Previously, he represented INGOs in the Strategic Executive Group (SEG) during 2021. He participates in the Strategic Advisory Groups (SAG) for the Nutrition and Food Security sectors, the PSEA Network, and supported joint engagement with OCHA that increased the humanitarian pooled fund allocation for INGOs from 2.5% to approximately 6.5%.
If elected, Manish commits to allocating 5-10% of his time to RCT deliberations and broader I/NGO coordination. Concern Worldwide operates with a dual humanitarian and development mandate and does not directly receive funding from UN agencies operating in the response, allowing the organisation to contribute independently to discussions representing the broader I/NGO community.
Candidate 2: Ms Kabita Bose
Plan International Bangladesh has been actively responding to the Rohingya crisis since 2017. Through the rationalisation process, PIB works in 9 camps for Education, 22 camps for Child Protection and GBV, and 18 camps for LSD, alongside operations in host communities. In FY 26, PIB secured 5.7 million Euro through 10 ongoing projects. The organisation has two offices in Cox’s Bazar hosting around 70 direct staff working solely on the response and currently works with 6 implementing partners.
Kabita has over 25 years of experience in the development sector. She previously served as the Co-Chair of the INGO CD Forum and is now one of the two INGO CD representatives in the Strategic Executive Group (SEG). PIB is a SAG member of the Education sector, LSDS, and Food Security, as well as a member of the Child Protection sub-sector, GBV working group, NGO Platform steering committee, and the newly formed RCT.
If elected, Kabita and her representative in Cox’s Bazar will ensure a minimum of 5% dedicated time per week to represent, advocate, and coordinate. She has represented Bangladesh and raised the Rohingya Refugee issue at global forums, including the ECW High Level Financing Conference in 2023. Her relationship with different government mechanisms also brings space and opportunities for the RCT to have access to national, regional, and global decision-makers.
Candidate 3: Ms Sumitra Mukherjee
DRC has been engaged in both the camp and host communities of Ukhiya and Teknaf since the beginning of the response. They maintain offices in Dhaka and Cox’s Bazar, with 120 staff and 700 volunteers.
Sumitra has been working as Country Director Bangladesh since January 2021. Following a recent organisational transformation merging the Myanmar and Bangladesh operations, she was redesignated as Head of Rohingya Response under a single management structure. She has experience as a HoSOG member and has represented the SEG as a backup.
DRC Bangladesh possesses field-level knowledge on sector coordination, operational needs, and strategic directions. The organisation is globally recognized for its advocacy work and connections with international platforms and sector leads.
