For all latest articles, follow on Google NewsThe United Nations is reducing aid, there is no state to provide subsidies from the internal budget, in such a situation, the United Nations is hindering the process of sending back more than a thousand Rohingya refugees under the pilot project.
On the other hand, some of the Rohingyas are now vocal in their demand to return to their country
The Rohingyas gathered in the camps of Cox’s Bazar on Thursday demanding four points including quick repatriation The rally was held at the end of the ‘Quick Repatriation’ campaign In the rally, the Rohingyas raised banners, festoons, placards and slogans and prayed for four demands, including returning to their homes in Myanmar, recognition of citizenship, security and freedom as people of other ethnic groups move freely.
Rally of Rohingyas to demand return to their country
Badrul Islam of camp number 26 of Teknaf, one of the Majhids who led the rally, told Deutsche Welle, “We want to go back to our country.” In that case, we have a four-point demand First, we have to give citizenship Secondly, we have to return our homes Thirdly, we should be given freedom of movement like other ethnic groups Fourth, we have to provide security Once these things are in order, we will move there We don’t want camp life anymore Where the United Nations used to give $12, now it gives $8 What happens with this money? We are going through a lot of trouble I want freedom from this imprisoned life.
I want freedom from this imprisoned life: Badrul Islam
Acting Chairman of Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Humanity Rohingya leader Dr. Mohammad Jobair told Deutsche Welle, “We have to go today or tomorrow.” We cannot stay in Bangladesh forever As a result, we no longer want a refugee life In coming days we also want to live in our native Arakan The international community should make effective arrangements for our return to our country.”
Additional Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (Deputy Secretary) Khalid Hossain told Deutsche Welle when asked about the gathering of Rohingyas, “The Rohingyas peacefully held a program demanding quick repatriation in the Ukhia-Teknaf camps of Cox’s Bazar.” The Rohingyas have raised some demands by demanding to return to Myanmar. It is said that UNHCR has stopped the rations of those who have shown interest in returning to Myanmar. In this context, he said, “This happened in the case of four services, it has been fixed.” We are trying to start the repatriation process as soon as possible.”
UN objection to forced Rohingya repatriation
UN Special Rapporteur on the situation in Myanmar, Tom Andrews, has called on Bangladesh to stop repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar under the pilot project . He said, Rohingya’s lives and freedom of movement are still at risk in Myanmar’s Rakhine The United Nations Human Rights Council issued a press release from Geneva on Thursday There, Tom Andrews said Bangladesh was forcing Rohingya refugees to return to Myanmar through “misleading” and “coercive” measures.
Tom Andrews said the situation in Myanmar is not conducive to the safe, dignified, permanent and voluntary repatriation of the Rohingya. Senior General Min Hong Hlaeng ordered the massacre of Rohingya He now leads a brutal military regime that attacks civilians and denies Rohingya citizenship and other basic rights. According to the circular, Bangladeshi officials did not mention a specific date but initially mentioned sending 1,140 Rohingya refugees. Another 6,000 Rohingyas are expected to be sent back by the end of this year Bangladesh authorities’ actions indicate that the first phase of sending people may happen soon Those who oppose this action of the Bangladesh authorities, the government threatens to arrest them. It has been alleged that documents are being seized and various types of retaliatory measures are being taken Rohingyas will not be allowed to return to their villages under the pilot project Many villages were still razed to the ground during the 2017 genocide Rohingya refugees will be accommodated in Mangdu Reception and Interim Camp They will then be taken to 15 newly created villages Rohingyas will not be allowed to move freely after returning to Rakhine
The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation in Myanmar said, “If the Rohingyas return in this situation, it will be a violation of Bangladesh’s obligations under international law.” Because, if Rohingyas return to Rakhine, they may become victims of more serious human rights violations as well as brutal crimes in the future. Therefore, I request Bangladesh to immediately suspend this pilot project of Rohingya repatriation.
What the experts are saying
An official involved in the Rohingya repatriation process told Deutsche Welle on condition of anonymity, “The pilot project was suspended before the UN called.” Which is yet to be announced Many of the 1,400 people named in the pilot project do not want to go now As a result, a list of those who want to go is being prepared We will discuss that list with the Myanmar authorities If they agree, the repatriation can begin.”
We see, the pressure is coming again and again on Bangladesh: Professor Dr. Amena Mohsin
However, in favor of the strong position of Bangladesh, the international relations analyst Professor Dr. Amena Mohsin “We have to understand the situation in Bangladesh,” he told Deutsche Welle I don’t think the pilot project should be stopped The allegations raised by the United Nations should be investigated Bangladesh government will not send anyone by force, it said We also see the World Food Program being cut down But this is self-contradiction Myanmar organized genocide I don’t see anything there, the UN is imposing any sanctions on them On the contrary, we see that different countries are doing business with Myanmar Investing there They are getting through We see, the pressure is coming again and again on Bangladesh As a result, instead of stopping the pilot project, the complaints should be investigated and the repatriation process should be initiated.”
Donor countries are not providing enough humanitarian aid: Asif Munir
However, refugee expert Asif Munir feels that there is a lot of confusion about the pilot project When asked whether Bangladesh will be under more pressure if this project is stopped, Mr. Munir told Deutsche Welle, “First of all, it needs to be clarified from the government’s side.” But the United Nations was not involved with it As a result, he did not know about it But those who visited last March say they are not satisfied We want a permanent solution In these circumstances one may doubt whether they are being sent voluntarily But it is related to human rights Now the pressure that is increasing on Bangladesh is different The United Nations has separate offices The office that is asking not to send them by force and the World Food Program are separate organizations of the United Nations But they have room to make individual decisions The main areas where various organizations are reducing their funding are, Donor countries are not providing enough humanitarian aid The joint response plan here is not the plan of the international organization There are governments, international organizations, and the United Nations Basically, the pressure needs to be increased here.
Dhaka University political science professor and Refugee and Migratory Movement Research Unit (Ramru) chairperson. Tasneem Siddiqui told Deutsche Welle, “The Rohingyas want to go back to their country.” Our government is also trying in different ways Myanmar is not agreeing in any way Here maybe Bangladesh is trying to apply pressure on them It is true that the situation there is still not normal It is also true, no one is supporting them to send them back Not even the United Nations So Bangladesh needs to take some strong steps to keep them under pressure Many are slowly folding their hands They are creating various problems in Bangladesh As a result, sometimes it is necessary to take a strong stand But that does not mean that they will be forcibly arrested and sent there now.”
Incidentally, on August 25, 2017, the Myanmar army started indiscriminately killing and torturing the Rohingya in the Rakhine region. At that time, more than 700,000 Rohingyas crossed the border and fled to Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh There were already hundreds of thousands of oppressed Rohingya here As a result, the total number of Rohingyas who have taken refuge here is currently more than 1.2 million
