Editorial Desk :
The crisis facing Bangladesh is more acute than that created by the Syrian civil war, which has seen far more people displaced but over a wider area and into countries with better infrastructure. The number of refugees arriving in Bangladesh since August 25 is almost three times the total that entered the EU by sea this year.
In this situation we should not think about them staying within Bangladesh and creating a state within the state. If they are given citizenship and assure safety, none of them will remain in our country. It is possible that some who have resources will try to avoid living in the chaotic and inhumane situation of the camps. That should not worry our government. The government should take steps for registering the Rohingya refugees. There has been complete mismanagement in the camps. It is a good thing that army has been given the task of maintaining discipline.
Not only that some refugees are escaping the hardship of the camps, some local people are entering the area in the hope of getting foreign aid. Some criminals are also busy among the helpless refugees for stealing and exploiting. The civil administration totally lacked control over the situation.
That is the reason why we have been urging Red Cross and foreign aid agencies to get involved quickly.
400,000 refugees is a lot of refugees to handle for Bangladesh — estimates by economists include almost USD 1 billion in spending to keep the refugees for one year in Bangladesh at living standards compatible with what most Rohingyas enjoy.
While USD 1 billion is a huge number it is nothing to worry about as we can easily get that funds from the UN and other multi and bilateral organizations, not to mention individual donations from rich countries. What is essential is for the agencies to distribute the material and monetary aid directly to ensure that they reach the Rohingya and that it isn’t appropriated and sold by corrupt officials in the black market –as has happened in the past for aid, which has been given to Bangladesh.
The Rohingya crisis is, first of all, a political issue in Myanmar. The ultimate solution lies in the granting citizenship and ensuring equal rights in their ancestral home. Unfortunately, the United Nations and influential states have done nothing more than criticising. For powerful neighbours such as India or China, but also for many global players, Myanmar is an untapped resource and investment hub waiting to be explored. It has become evident that the humanitarian intervention is reserved for strategic and business usefulness, not to protect the most vulnerable.
Until a permanent solution is found in Myanmar, it is the responsibility of refugee hosting countries, including Bangladesh, to ensure that Rohingya people can live with basic human rights and dignity. Rather than making administrative interventions, granting proper legal standards would serve both refugees and the national interest of Bangladesh.
The crisis facing Bangladesh is more acute than that created by the Syrian civil war, which has seen far more people displaced but over a wider area and into countries with better infrastructure. The number of refugees arriving in Bangladesh since August 25 is almost three times the total that entered the EU by sea this year.
In this situation we should not think about them staying within Bangladesh and creating a state within the state. If they are given citizenship and assure safety, none of them will remain in our country. It is possible that some who have resources will try to avoid living in the chaotic and inhumane situation of the camps. That should not worry our government. The government should take steps for registering the Rohingya refugees. There has been complete mismanagement in the camps. It is a good thing that army has been given the task of maintaining discipline.
Not only that some refugees are escaping the hardship of the camps, some local people are entering the area in the hope of getting foreign aid. Some criminals are also busy among the helpless refugees for stealing and exploiting. The civil administration totally lacked control over the situation.
That is the reason why we have been urging Red Cross and foreign aid agencies to get involved quickly.
400,000 refugees is a lot of refugees to handle for Bangladesh — estimates by economists include almost USD 1 billion in spending to keep the refugees for one year in Bangladesh at living standards compatible with what most Rohingyas enjoy.
While USD 1 billion is a huge number it is nothing to worry about as we can easily get that funds from the UN and other multi and bilateral organizations, not to mention individual donations from rich countries. What is essential is for the agencies to distribute the material and monetary aid directly to ensure that they reach the Rohingya and that it isn’t appropriated and sold by corrupt officials in the black market –as has happened in the past for aid, which has been given to Bangladesh.
The Rohingya crisis is, first of all, a political issue in Myanmar. The ultimate solution lies in the granting citizenship and ensuring equal rights in their ancestral home. Unfortunately, the United Nations and influential states have done nothing more than criticising. For powerful neighbours such as India or China, but also for many global players, Myanmar is an untapped resource and investment hub waiting to be explored. It has become evident that the humanitarian intervention is reserved for strategic and business usefulness, not to protect the most vulnerable.
Until a permanent solution is found in Myanmar, it is the responsibility of refugee hosting countries, including Bangladesh, to ensure that Rohingya people can live with basic human rights and dignity. Rather than making administrative interventions, granting proper legal standards would serve both refugees and the national interest of Bangladesh.
