Bangladesh in the tripartite meeting with Myanmar and China on Tuesday proposed that the Rohingya repatriation should start by March, but Myanmar expressed its reservations over the deadline citing lack of logistical support and preparations.
The meeting which was held virtually at the foreign secretary level was chaired by Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Luo Zhaohui. Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen led the Bangladesh side and Deputy Minister of International Cooperation Hau Do Suan led Myanmar.
After the 90-minute meeting, the foreign secretary said they had taken a number of decisions to pave the way for the repatriation including holding the working group meeting in the first week of February which will be followed by another secretary level meeting.
He said Myanmar in principle has agreed to start the repatriation but told the meeting that starting the repatriation by the first quarter of this year will be difficult for them.
“Personally, I would say, I’m cautiously optimistic. We’ll keep trying with our heart and soul,” Momen said when asked about the possibility of starting the repatriation in the second quarter.
“Apparently, it will be difficult to start the repatriation process by March,” he said.
After the meeting, Beijing issued a statement in which it said the meeting was held in a “friendly, candid, and constructive atmosphere”.
“The three parties reviewed the progress of previous work, discussed the way forward, and reiterated our commitment to creating favorable conditions for the early repatriation of displaced Myanmar residents from Rakhine,” it said.
Momen and Do Suan discussed a “possible road map for starting repatriation, the modus operandi for carrying out fieldwork, and ways to strengthen bilateral and trilateral coordination”.
“The two sides also agreed that the issue of repatriation should be resolved with goodwill and utmost sincerity and that an early and durable settlement would contribute to better Bangladesh-Myanmar cooperation, stronger regional connectivity, and shared prosperity for all,” according to China’s statement.
Bangladesh is hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas who fled ethnic cleansing in the Rakhine State. Most of them arrived after the August 2017 military crackdown.
Dhaka wants to find their repatriation in a safe and dignified way to Myanmar as the only solution to the crisis. Myanmar denied their citizenship.
Bangladesh has handed over a list of 840,000 Rohingyas to Myanmar for verification. Myanmar side verified only 42,000 people so far.
The foreign secretary said at least the process should start and it will take a long time to send back all Rohingyas. The number is growing with 90,000 children that took birth in the last three years, he said.
He said more complications might crop up but there is no alternative to early beginning of repatriation.
He said a DG-level hot line will be opened for instant communication between the two countries over repatriation issues.
The Chinese side said Vice Foreign Minister Luo Zhaohui pointed out that since 2017, China has been actively engaged in mediation between Bangladesh and Myanmar.
“As a friend to both countries, China has been trying to bring the two parties closer by establishing various channels for dialogue, including informal foreign ministers’ meeting, vice-ministerial level meeting, and tripartite working group mechanism.
“China also facilitates direct communication between Bangladesh and Myanmar. Vice Foreign Minister Luo Zhaohui reiterated China’s position that the issue of displaced people from Rakhine is ultimately a bilateral one, hence bilateral negotiation and consultation between Bangladesh and Myanmar should be prioritized for finding a durable solution.
“The international community, China included, should play a constructive role instead of further complicating the situation. Promoting development is the fundamental way to address the issue.
“China is happy to see the positive outcomes of the meeting, and is ready, whenever necessary, to provide political and material assistance to complement the bilateral efforts.”
However, there was a difference of opinion on the mode of the repatriation.
“We proposed that they take back the Rohingyas on the basis of an area or village. We said that if people of the same area can be sent together it will be easy to motivate them to go back as the lack of motivation seems to be the main hindrance” foreign secretary Momen said.
“Myanmar yet to agree to the proposal but they said that they will think over it.”
The issue of the terrorist activities by Rohingyas was also raised by Myanmar but Bangladesh has made it clear that it never allows anybody to use its soil for any kind of terrorist activities.
The violence among Rohingya groups took place recently was connected to criminal activities like drug trafficking and establishing supremacy, he said.
“We have told the meeting that the fencing of the camps will be finished by June and things will be under control after that” the foreign secretary said.
“And before repatriation they have to sign a form committing that they will not violate the law of Myanmar” he added.
In the meeting Myanmar said that they will engage with the Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar camps to encourage them to go back to Rakhine.
“Previously they have talked to some Rohingyas but they felt that they talked to the wrong group of people” said the foreign secretary.
However China, which coordinated the trilateral mechanism, has said that it will provide free vaccination to the Rohingyas selected for repatriation.