Myanmar has not taken back a single Rohingya in the last seven years yet while repatriation attempts failed twice due to trust deficit among the forcibly displaced people about their safety and security in Rakhine state. Therefore, they (Rohingyas) are becoming frustrated due to protracted uncertainty over their repatriation which has a potential risk as it entices many of them to get involved in criminal activities.
The Rohingya community and supporters around the world on Sunday observed August 25 as Rohingya Genocide Remembrance Day. This year marks the seventh anniversary of attacks by Myanmar’s military junta.
Since August 25 in 2017, Bangladesh has been hosting over 13 lakh forcefully displaced Rohingyas in Cox's Bazar district and most of them arrived there after a military crackdown by Myanmar, which the UN called a ‘textbook example of ethnic cleansing’ and other rights groups dubbed as ‘genocide’.
Therefore, the repatriation process must start immediately as how long will Bangladesh bear the burden? The world community, the UN, and the rights bodies must come forward and extend all-out cooperation to Bangladesh to ensure smooth repatriation of Rohingyas. They will also have to continue to put pressure on Myanmar military government to take back its nationals from here.
Local people of Cox's Bazar are facing serious difficulties and sufferings because of them (Rohingyas). The relocation arrangements cannot be a permanent solution.
Therefore, Rohingyas are getting frustrated due to protracted uncertainty over their repatriation which has a potential risk as it entices many of them to get involved in criminal activities. Around 45,000 Rohingya babies are born every year. As it is a big threat to our national security, all stakeholders should sincerely work to find a solution to this end.
The incidents like murder, abduction, rape, mugging, and drug peddling are taking place regularly in the Rohingya camps as the law and order situation continues to deteriorate there. We voice deep concern over the deteriorating law and order in the Rohingya camps.
Around 45,000 Rohingya
babies are born
every
year
Several killings happened across the refugee camps in the last seven years. In the last seven years many Rohingyas were murdered in the camps. The number of murders in the camp continued to increase over the years.
Earlier, the killing of Mohammad Mohib Ullah, a prominent community leader who campaigned for the Rohingya’s safe repatriation, brought the issue of security and crimes in the camps into sharp focus both at home and abroad. After the murder, some measures were taken to bring the security situation under control. But the steps could not stop criminal activities there yet.
Several Rohingyas formed at least 20 gangs, who are now involved in serious crimes like arms and drugs peddling, human trafficking, gold smuggling, kidnapping and killing. They are also committing robbery, burglary, cyber crime, sexual harassment and running illegal SIM and hundi trading. These organised displaced Rohingya armed groups are also running juvenile gangs in order to serve their purposes. Besides, they are also grabbing the local people’s lands in many ways.
After dusk, the refugee camps become safe haven for all criminal activities and a sense of foreboding fills the air. Apart from law and order, the environment of Ukhia in Cox's Bazar, which has a deep forest, has been ruined by Rohingyas. They are reducing the forest by cutting trees and causing great environmental hazards in the area. The world community should learn from Bangladesh how to stand beside the distressed humanity. Bangladesh provided shelter to the Rohingyas on humanitarian grounds. But now they are a big burden for Bangladesh. However, world leaders must take all measures to compel Myanmar to create conditions enabling the Rohingyas’ safe, dignified, and voluntary return to their homeland as early as possible.
