BANGLADESH emphasized the need for accelerating efforts by the Myanmar government for creating conducive environment in the northern Rakhine State and rebuilding houses and villages for the returnees to facilitate early repatriation of Rohingya refugees staying in Bangladesh after the mass atrocities in August 2017. Bangladesh also called Myanmar to take steps to address the unwillingness of prospective returnees to accept the National Verification Card. We think, the bilateral trade of words would not guarantee of repatriation unless regional superpower China or the UN become involved. Myanmar government has demarked the Rohingya’s lands for setting up heavy industries.
Foreign Minister-led Bangladesh delegation visited some Rakhine villages from where most of the inhabitants fled to Bangladesh after the Myanmar military crackdown. Bangladesh delegates in a four-day visit were taken to the border on the Myanmar side where few thousand displaced Myanmar nationals have been staying at the zero line. Myanmar informed that houses for the returnees are being built at selected locations and more will be built in 42 sites. As per news media disclosure, both sides agreed on the need for early settlement of the displaced people.
Before repatriation, Myanmar has to confirm guarantees regarding a safe, dignified and sustainable environment in Rakhine. This has been one of the basic preconditions demanded by Bangladesh and many other nations and human rights groups who are genuinely concerned about the fate of the Rohingya refugees. So far Bangladesh has been trying its best to fulfil all the conditions required to start the repatriation process. This includes bringing over a million Rohingya refugees under biometric registration. We are concerned about how the eligibility will be ascertained by Myanmar for safe, dignified and voluntary repatriation of refugees. We also expect Myanmar will also give them full citizenship rights.
