Under the initiative of China, the government is going to form a committee comprising of representatives from BD, China, Japan, Myanmar, NGOs and the Rohingyas aiming at resolving the Rohingya crisis as soon as possible, sources said. Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Enamur Rahman said, the government is now hopeful of Rohingya repatriation as China has agreed to broker the issue.
Myanmar government has also signaled green regarding Rohingya repatriation during its negotiation with China, he added. “If Myanmar agrees to take back Rohingya people to their homeland, there is no need of shifting Rohingya refugees to the camps of Bhashan Char”, he informed further.
Earlier China had sent a letter to Bangladesh government urging to form a working committee regarding repatriation of the Rohingya refugees. Following the move of China, the government is now working to form the committee which will be finalised soon, sources said. Former Ambassador Mohammad Jamir told the Bangladesh Post, “Rohingya refugees have now turned to a burden to Bangladesh. This is now not only a problem for Bangladesh but also a headache for international community.”
Nearly 1.1 million ( 11 lakh) Rohingya refugees, includingwomen and children, are languishing in crammed camps in two upazilas of the coastal district of Cox's Bazar. Of them, 0.7 million( seven lakh) fled their homes from the restive Rakhine State of Myanmar to Bangladesh through land, and river borders after facing brutal persecution from Myanmar army and the local Buddhists in September 2017.
They joined 0.4 million (Four lakh) existing Rohingya refugees who fled during the persecution carried out by Myanmar army previously. Rohingya refugees are still awaiting for the justice and a say about their future, two years after being forced from their homes by mass atrocities in Myanmar. The prospect of their safe repatriation seems still a far cry.
So, while the Myanmar government talks about building temporary shelters, offering medical care and sufficient food rations for Rohingya returnees, many international observers insist the root causes of the violence and hate-filled attitudes againt the Rohingya by Myanmar Army and the Buddhists need to be properly tackled before Rohingyas can return home and live with safety and dignity.
The UN, charities and human rights groups are concerned there is no effective plan in place to independently monitor the Rohingyas' safety after their return. "We are witnessing anxiety and panic among those Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar who are being insisted to return to Myanmar against their will," Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights opined.
