Baby boom adds new Rohingya concern amid stalled repatriation

Diplomatic Correspondent :

The Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh continues to escalate, with an estimated 30,000 babies born each year in the refugee camps, exacerbating the challenges of managing the world’s largest refugee settlement.

Despite agreements with Myanmar and China to facilitate repatriation, no Rohingyas have yet returned to their homeland. Meanwhile, an additional 64,718 refugees entered Bangladesh in 2024, according to Mohammad Rafiqul Alam, spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry and Director General of the Public Diplomacy Wing, at a press conference on Monday.

“Currently, 1.3 million Rohingyas are sheltering in Bangladesh, with 1,005,520 registered by the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commission (RRRC).

These refugees constitute 204,274 families, of which 52 per cent are children, 44 per cent are adults, and 4 per cent are elderly. The gender distribution is almost balanced, with 49 per cent male and 51 per cent female refugees,” he stated.

According to the ministry, the crisis reached its peak in 2017 when 850,000 refugees fled Myanmar following military crackdowns. At the time, the United Nations described the killings as a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing.” Since then, multiple repatriation efforts have stalled despite several attempts.

Highlighting past refugee movements, the spokesperson noted that between 1977 and 1978, approximately 200,000 Rohingyas entered Bangladesh, with 190,000 later returning to Myanmar. In a subsequent wave in 1991, 250,877 Rohingyas sought refuge in Bangladesh, yet only 2,36,599 returned.

In contrast to these earlier repatriation efforts, not a single Rohingya has been successfully repatriated in recent years.

This failure raises concerns regarding the effectiveness of the bilateral agreement between Bangladesh and Myanmar, as well as the tripartite arrangement involving China.

Rafiqul Alam stated, “The bilateral agreement between Bangladesh and Myanmar, along with the tripartite agreement with China, remains in place.”

However, ongoing conflict has made repatriation increasingly difficult, with the international community consistently advocating for a safe and dignified return for the Rohingyas.

Bangladesh also seeks a safe, sustainable, and dignified repatriation process and has called upon the international community to resolve the crisis, warning that prolonged displacement may destabilise the region due to rising criminal activities within the camps.

The government has further highlighted the severe implications of stalled repatriation, including a continuous shortfall of resources.

For now, Bangladesh continues to shoulder the burden of hosting the refugees while balancing humanitarian obligations. However, the growing population and halted repatriation efforts serve as urgent reminders that the Rohingya crisis is far from over.

Meanwhile, during a workshop titled “Gendered Violence and Insecurity in the Rohingya Refugee Camps in Bangladesh: New Insights and Ways Forward,” held in the capital, participants expressed deep concerns about the crisis.

Sharmin S. Murshid, Adviser on Women and Children Affairs, highlighted the widespread abuse faced by women in the Rohingya camps.

She noted the prevalence of forced child marriages and the ongoing uncertainty regarding their return to Myanmar. Murshid urged the United Nations to initiate a peacekeeping mission to facilitate repatriation and establish peace in Rakhine State.

She stressed the need to address the region’s systemic instability, stating, “We must treat this as another humanitarian crisis. If we fail to tackle the root causes, the cycle of violence and displacement will persist.”

Professor Dr Syeda Rozana Rashid of Dhaka University discussed the challenges associated with managing the influx of refugees, many of whom enter through remote and poorly monitored areas.

Ferdousi Shahriar, Director General of the Myanmar Wing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlighted the involvement of countries such as Malaysia and China in diplomatic efforts to resolve the Rohingya issue.

Additional Secretary Mohammad Mizanur Rahman shed light on the severe economic challenges within the refugee camps. He revealed that many refugees are compelled to engage in informal labour to support their families due to insufficient aid.

“Refugees are allocated only Tk 16 per day for food, forcing them to work as construction labourers, fishermen, and agricultural workers,” he explained.

The workshop concluded with a collective call to address the root causes of the crisis, ensure the safety of vulnerable refugees, and create conditions for their safe and dignified return to Myanmar.