Dhaka, Naypyidaw resume Rohingya repatriation talks

Staff Reporter  :
Dhaka and Naypyidaw have once again renewed their efforts to find out ways to pave the path for starting Rohingya repatriation with the mediation of China.

For embarking the efforts for beginning a small-scale repatriation by December this year, both the countries on Monday held a director general-level meeting in the administrative capital of Myanmar, Naypidaw.

To attend the meeting, a delegation led by Director General of the Myanmar Wing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Miah Md Mainul Kabir reached Yangon on Saturday.

According to a source from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, multiple meetings would take place between Bangladesh and Myanmar in the coming month to successfully implement the Rohingya repatriation pilot project.

As part of this effort, delegation of both countries sat in Naypyidaw, and in a few days, a Myanmar delegation is expected to arrive in Cox’s Bazar to engage in discussions with willing Rohingya refugees.

China is playing a significant role in these repatriation discussions between Bangladesh and Myanmar, sources said.

Since the military junta assumed power in Myanmar in February 2021, this marks the first visit of a delegation from Bangladesh to discuss the Rohingya repatriation issue in this Southeast Asian nation.

An official closely involved with the Rohingya repatriation process revealed that Myanmar has already agreed to repatriate the Rohingya people to their original villages in Rakhine State.

Bangladesh will now emphasise both the measures Myanmar has already taken and its future commitments to rebuild the trust and confidence of the Rohingya community, encouraging them to return to their homeland.

Under the pilot repatriation project, Rohingya individuals will initially reside in housing provided to them at the beginning of the repatriation process. Within three months, they will be relocated to their own villages.

Addressing the issue of rebuilding confidence among the Rohingya population, the official explained that the primary hurdle to repatriation lies in the Rohingya community’s pervasive sense of insecurity.

They still do not perceive Myanmar as a safe place to return to.

If they do not feel secure, Bangladesh will not forcibly send any Rohingya back to Rakhine.

Bangladesh remains committed to the principle of voluntary, secure, and dignified repatriation, sources said.

The Rohingya are expected to return to Maungdaw in Rakhine.

Prior to this, on March 15th, a delegation of 17 members, led by the Regional Director of Myanmar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Aung Myo, visited Bangladesh.

They engaged with and verified essential information from 429 Rohingya refugees through direct interactions. On March 22nd, this delegation returned to Myanmar.

According to available information, the Myanmar government has initiated a pilot project to create 15 new villages on 750 plots for Rohingya resettlement.

Rohingya refugees returning from Bangladesh will initially be placed in a few camps for verification before being sent to these new villages.

If this pilot project is successful, Myanmar plans to repatriate another 5,000 Rohingya refugees.

However, Rohingya refugees sheltered in Bangladesh express their preference to return to their original villages in Myanmar.

Without this option, they are not willing to participate in the repatriation process.

According to a foreign ministry official, as part of the proposed actions, the repatriated Rohingyas will receive one-time financial assistance.

Myanmar has also assured that they will eventually be allowed to return to their original villages, although immediate returns are not possible.

It has been reported that a list of over 3,000 Rohingyas has been submitted for the pilot repatriation project.

In addition to ensuring the security, protection, and dignity of the Rohingyas, Bangladesh is particularly focused on ensuring that family members are not separated during the repatriation process and that Rohingyas from the same areas can return together.

The commencement of repatriation will depend on Myanmar’s approval of this list.

Prior to the repatriation, a delegation from Myanmar will visit and engage in discussions with these Rohingyas in Bangladesh.

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen recently informed reporters that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has prepared a list of over 3,000 Rohingyas for repatriation under the pilot project.

The timing of their repatriation will ultimately be determined by Myanmar.

When the efforts for Rohingya repatriation is being carried out, the Western countries including the USA which are mainly funding for feeding the Rohingyas have several times said that the repatriation has to be voluntary, sustainable and dignified and the environment in Myanmar is not yet ready for repatriation.

Now it is time to see what outcomes are revealed from the Naypyidaw meeting regarding the repatriation with the engagement of China.