Bangladesh agrees to complete Rohingya repatriation in two years

19, Jan 2018 | CJP Team

Reuters reported that after meeting with Myanmar, Bangladesh said that it would complete the repatriation of Rohingya refugees in two years. Bangladesh’s foreign ministry released a statement indicating that Myanmar would house those returning in temporary shelters before constructing homes for them. “Myanmar has reiterated its commitment to stop (the) outflow of Myanmar residents to Bangladesh,” it said, adding that Bangladesh would establish five transit camps, with Myanmar establishing two reception centres on its side of the border. A Myanmar government spokesperson previously told Reuters that those returning could apply for citizenship “after they pass the verification process”. Rohingya have been considered stateless, with Myanmar’s government refusing to recognise them as full citizens. Non-governmental organisations are skeptical, Reuters reported, opining that the plan does not sufficiently deal with the issues of safety, income, and permanent resettlement. Refugees’ concerns were omitted from the talks, “as if they are an inert mass of people who will go where and when they are told,” Phil Robertson of Human Rights Watch told Reuters. “Where are considerations for protection of the Rohingya from Myanmar security forces who months ago were raping and killing them? How come the discussions ignore the deprivation of rights of people held in indefinite detention, which is what these so-called “temporary” accommodations may become?,” Robertson questioned.