Staff Reporter :
The prolonged internal conflicts in Myanmar have emerged as a major obstacle, impeding the repatriation of Rohingyas to their homeland in Rakhine for nearly seven years, as highlighted by the international community.
The exodus of Rohingyas, triggered by the actions of the Myanmar Army in 2017, continues to reverberate through the region, underscoring the urgency of resolving the crisis.
The government of Bangladesh has been fervently urging the international community to address the crisis, emphasizing that prolonged delays could potentially destabilize the law and order situation in the region. However, the West, among others, contends that the ongoing armed conflicts in Rakhine state preclude the immediate repatriation of Rohingyas.
Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud emphatically countered this stance, asserting that Myanmar’s internal conflicts cannot serve as a pretext for delaying the repatriation of persecuted Rohingyas to their homeland. Mahmud, speaking to journalists at the office of the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner in Cox’s Bazaar, emphasized ongoing dialogue with the Myanmar government, refuting claims that internal conflicts are the primary cause of delays.
“In the last 70-80 years, Myanmar was never free from turmoil, but that cannot be an excuse not to take back the Rohingyas, who are the citizens of that country for hundreds of years,” Mahmud stated.
The minister also shed light on the multifaceted challenges arising in Cox’s Bazar following the sheltering of Rohingyas. “We are facing environmental problems, deterioration of law and order due to Rohingyas who have also been involved in drug trafficking and terror activities,” Mahmud remarked, underscoring the complexities inherent in managing the refugee influx.
Furthermore, Mahmud expressed concerns over the recruitment of members by terror and fanatic groups from Rohingya camps, noting the implications of such activities not only within Bangladesh but also in neighboring countries, thereby amplifying the urgency for a comprehensive solution to the Rohingya crisis.
Regarding the repatriation, he said that he has had talks with Myanmar’s foreign minister and has been carrying out regular discussions with other countries so that Myanmar feel pressure to take back their citizens with full rights.
“Myanmar always says that they would take back the Rohingyas. But they have not taken a single Rohingya in the last seven years. Contrarily, new problems have here. Due to internal conflicts, some 500 Myanmar Border Police members and their army fled to our country,” he said.
“We have sent back them back after talking with Myanmar. Again 138 new forces, including lieutenant colonel and two majors, have fled to our country. We will send them back also,” he continued.
The journalists also asked about the visit of US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Dunald Lu, the foreign minister said, “The bilateral relationship between Bangladesh and Myanmar is excellent than any other times. He (Lu) is visiting Bangladesh to take that relation to new height. We efforts will be to consolidate this relation.”