Past BNP successes inspire govt in taking Rohingya repatriation drive

The government is pursuing a renewed diplomatic strategy to resolve the Rohingya crisis, drawing lessons from earlier BNP administrations that succeeded in repatriating large numbers of displaced Rohingyas to their homeland, Myanmar.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam told BSS today in an exclusive interview that the government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is seeking to revive the broad-based diplomatic approach pursued under Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.

"We have a history of successfully repatriating Rohingyas when the BNP was in government," she said, stressing that stronger international involvement would again be essential to creating conditions for their safe, voluntary and dignified return.

Bangladesh first faced a major influx of around 200,000 Rohingyas from Myanmar in 1978. Under an agreement reached between Bangladesh and then Burma, the repatriation process was completed by December 1979, according to UNHCR records.

"All around 200,000 Rohingyas who entered Bangladesh in 1978 were eventually repatriated under the leadership of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman," Shama said.

After that another influx of around 250,000 Rohingyas in 1992, approximately 236,000 were repatriated during the government of Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.

Shama said those experiences demonstrated that sustained political engagement with Myanmar, backed by broader international involvement, could produce results.

She said Begum Khaleda Zia also played an important humanitarian role during the mass influx beginning in 2017.

Recalling the period, Shama said Khaleda Zia, who was then in London for treatment, was among the first senior political leaders to publicly call for Rohingyas stranded near the border to be allowed into Bangladesh and given humanitarian shelter.

"She (Khaleda Zia) said, 'Let them come in, let them enter the country'," Shama recalled.

She said Bangladesh had fulfilled a major humanitarian responsibility by sheltering the displaced population, but the prolonged crisis had now created serious economic, social and security pressures on Bangladesh and particularly on host communities.

The state minister said Bangladesh is currently dealing with more than one million Rohingyas and the population in the camps continues to increase.

She said more than 30,000 children are being born in the camps every year, making the crisis increasingly complex.

At the same time, international humanitarian funding has been declining, putting pressure on food, healthcare, education, shelter and other essential services, she mentioned.

Against that backdrop, Shama said the government's immediate objective was to begin repatriation rather than allow the crisis to become an indefinite humanitarian arrangement.

"We want at least to begin repatriation," she said.

Stronger UN role sought

The state minister said one of the major differences between earlier successful repatriation efforts and subsequent initiatives was the depth of international involvement.

She argued that the United Nations and other international partners had played a more significant role during earlier repatriation processes.

Referring to the Bangladesh-China-Myanmar tripartite mechanism pursued during the previous Awami League government, she said: "The tripartite mechanism did not work. It failed."

The former government signed repatriation arrangements with Myanmar, but no large-scale organised return ultimately took place.

Shama said the current government is, therefore, seeking wider involvement from the United Nations, China, ASEAN members, Muslim-majority countries and other influential international partners.

"We hope the United Nations will now engage more deeply with the issue," she said.

She said Bangladesh was also engaging both the Myanmar authorities and the Arakan Army because of the changed political and security realities inside Rakhine State.

Communication with the Arakan Army remains difficult, she said, but Dhaka is maintaining contacts through both formal and informal channels.

PM takes Rohingya roadmap to UN

The government has also elevated the Rohingya issue at the highest multilateral level as Prime Minister Tarique Rahman placed five proposals for resolving the crisis at a high-level side event at UN headquarters in New York on September 23.

The proposals included a clear roadmap for early, safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable repatriation, an end to violence against civilians, predictable humanitarian support, stronger justice and accountability, and greater regional and international cooperation against cross-border crime.

A day later, addressing the General Debate of the 81st UN General Assembly on September 24, Tarique Rahman said the only lasting solution was the safe return of Rohingyas to Myanmar, stressing that the crisis originated in Myanmar and its solution must ultimately be found there.

During his New York visit, the Prime Minister also discussed a sustainable solution with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and separately stressed the need for stronger and coordinated international efforts during a meeting with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih.

China, ASEAN, Muslim countries engaged

Shama said China would remain particularly important because of its influence over Myanmar.

She said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman discussed the Rohingya crisis with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his China visit and sought Beijing's support in creating conditions for repatriation.

Bangladesh is also intensifying engagement with ASEAN countries, including Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines, which maintain relations with Myanmar and could use their influence to support a solution, she said.

Turkiye and other Muslim-majority countries have also indicated willingness to assist Bangladesh's diplomatic efforts, she added.

Shama, however, cautioned that the crisis had become far more complicated because of conflict and competing authorities inside Myanmar.

"This is an extremely difficult problem. It will not be solved overnight," she said.

Verification and identification of Rohingyas eligible for return are continuing, and Bangladesh has repeatedly urged Myanmar to accelerate the process, she said.

The state minister said the government nevertheless believes the lessons of previous successful repatriation efforts remain relevant.

She said Bangladesh would continue combining bilateral engagement with stronger UN involvement and pressure from regional and international partners.

"The objective is not simply to continue managing the displaced population," she said. "We want to create the conditions where repatriation can actually begin."

Source: BSS