Six years after the Rohingya influx in Bangladesh, the government continues its efforts focusing on their safe repatriation, though some countries and international organisations are pushing for their integration in Bangladesh.
On 25 August 2017, Myanmar's military began carrying out violent operations against the Rohingya population in northern Rakhine state, which resulted in grave crimes under international law. Entire villages were burnt, and hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas were forced to flee into Bangladesh.
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. 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 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.
We have done the best we can to ensure Rohingya repatriation through peaceful negotiation but nothing has gone in our favor so far. There is no denying that Suu Kyi was no good for us but there was still hope that through negotiation the two neighboring countries would end up on a happy note. But now it is envisaged that Rohingya repartition will never be an important agenda for the military government of Myanmar.
It is crucial that the international community continues 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.
