Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a recent interview with the Bangla service of Voice of America (VoA) said everyone needs to understand the reality that the forcibly displaced Rohingyas are becoming a huge burden for Bangladesh and they must go back home. Referring to Bangladesh's repeated call to the international community for safe and sustainable rehabilitation of the Rohingyas, she said it is impossible for a country alone to take responsibilities of such a huge population (1.2 million of Rohingyas). Bangladesh is not in a position to take any more people from Myanmar, she said, adding that Rohingyas should go back to their own country.
Over the last five years, displaced Rohingyas have appeared as a serious burden on the economy and environment of Bangladesh. The prolonged stay of the Rohingyas in Bangladesh is destroying forests in Cox's Bazar.
On top of that, Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar have turned into hotbeds of crime. According to media reports, criminal gangs, active in the camps, often lock into bloody confrontations over control of markets, Yaba smuggling, and human trafficking. Also, Rohingyas have been engaged in serious confrontations with locals over supremacy of drug smuggling.
We expect a more vigorous role of the
international community on the
diplomatic front to compel Myanmar
to take back the Rohingyas
It needs no mentioning that voluntary repatriation of the Rohingyas is the most viable and durable solution to the crisis. In order to make voluntary repatriations happen, Myanmar has to ensure that Rohingya refugees will not be persecuted upon their return.
It is worth mentioning that repatriation attempt failed twice in November 2018 and August 2019 amid Rohingyas' lack of trust in the Myanmar government.
We have done the best we can to ensure Rohingya repatriation through peaceful negotiation but nothing has gone in our favor so far. Bangladesh wants to resolve the Rohingya crisis through peaceful negotiation and the country expects similar reciprocity from Myanmar and international community. We have done the best we can to ensure Rohingya repatriation through peaceful negotiation but nothing has gone in our favor so far.
The government launched its diplomatic efforts to send them back and signed deals with Myanmar. But five years on, even a single Rohingya have not returned to their motherland in fear of being persecuted upon their return.
The international community should continue to maintain pressure on Myanmar to create a conducive environment so that the Rohingya refugees can return to their homeland with safety, security
and dignity. We expect a more vigorous role of the international community on the diplomatic front to compel Myanmar to take back the Rohingyas.
