Al Mamun Harun Ur Rashid :
Despite eight years having passed since the onset of the Rohingya crisis, a sustainable solution remains elusive.
Over one million Rohingya refugees continue to live in overcrowded camps in Bangladesh, with little tangible progress towards repatriation.
While international discourse has largely centred around humanitarian aid and funding, policymakers and experts are increasingly calling for a renewed focus on repatriation as the only viable long-term resolution.
In a recent development, Myanmar authorities confirmed the verification of 180,000 names from a list of 800,000 Rohingyas residing in Bangladesh.
Although this marks a rare approval by Myanmar’s junta government, it falls far short of the necessary commitments for genuine repatriation.
Critically, Myanmar still does not recognise the Rohingya as citizens.
The timing of this partial approval also raises concerns, given Myanmar’s ongoing civil conflict, particularly the intensifying clashes in Rakhine State between the military and the Arakan Army. Rakhine, the Rohingya’s place of origin, has become increasingly unstable, casting doubt on the feasibility of any safe return.
Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain commented, “Verification of names does not imply immediate repatriation. The current conditions on the ground are not conducive.
We are urging the international community to help establish a secure and rights-based environment for the Rohingyas’ return.”
The Rohingya themselves continue to demand repatriation that is voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable. Central to their demands is the right to citizenship-still denied by the Myanmar junta.
Meanwhile, international actors remain hesitant, focusing more on Myanmar’s political future than exerting pressure for immediate action.
Experts have warned that further delay is risky. Bangladesh, hosting over a million Rohingyas, is facing rising local tensions, environmental strain, and long-term security concerns.
Professor Imtiaz Ahmed, an international relations scholar, stated, “Verification without rights or safety guarantees is meaningless. Myanmar can no longer resolve this issue in isolation-the Arakan Army must also be factored in.”
He noted that while Bangladesh continues to rely on traditional diplomacy, there is an urgent need to expand efforts through Track II and Track III diplomacy by engaging think tanks, civil society, and regional stakeholders.
Bangladesh currently holds the chairmanship of BIMSTEC-a regional bloc that includes Myanmar-for the next two years. Analysts suggest this presents a strategic opportunity for Dhaka to mobilise multilateral pressure.
“Bangladesh must emphasise to BIMSTEC members that continued instability threatens their own economic prospects,” Professor Ahmed noted.
Regional powers such as Thailand are already expressing concern, and broader instability in Myanmar is beginning to affect neighbouring economies. In two months, the United Nations will convene a high-level conference on the Rohingya crisis.
However, its effectiveness will depend heavily on participation from all key stakeholders, including the junta and armed ethnic groups such as the Arakan Army.
“Without inclusive representation at the UN forum, the conference risks becoming a symbolic gesture rather than a catalyst for resolution,” Professor Ahmed warned.
There is also an urgent need to address the psychological toll on the Rohingya community, particularly the younger generation growing up in the camps. “Life in a refugee camp cannot substitute for real freedom,” said a senior Bangladeshi official. “We must help the Rohingya realise that Bangladesh is not a permanent home and support their readiness to return with dignity.”
These programmes, experts say, should be supported by the international community, both financially and through advocacy. The goal is to rebuild confidence within the Rohingya community and prepare them for eventual repatriation.
China, as a principal investor in Myanmar and a central player in regional development initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), cannot be overlooked. Bangladesh must engage China more proactively, emphasising that sustained instability in Rakhine could jeopardise Chinese investments and broader regional growth.
With a combination of diplomatic, regional, psychological, and international tools at its disposal, Bangladesh must now act decisively. The status quo is no longer sustainable. Repatriation will not be achieved through paperwork or political statements alone-concrete, coordinated action is required to bring an end to one of the most protracted refugee crises in recent history.
