Meeting today to repatriate Rohingyas by December

Following a gap of more than four years, Bangladesh is about to hold discussions in Myanmar on starting Rohingya repatriation. The director general-level meeting will be held today, Monday in the administrative capital of Myanmar, Naypyidaw.

In this meeting, officials of both countries will discuss necessary steps to remove obstacles and to reestablish the confidence of the Rohingyas to begin small-scale repatriation by December under a trilateral initiative mediated by China.

Speaking from Myanmar, several members of the Bangladeshi delegation have informed Prothom Alo of the matter on Sunday evening.

A delegation led by Miah Md Mainul Kabir, director general of the Myanmar wing of the foreign ministry, reached Yangon on Saturday to attend the meeting.

Since the junta assumed power in Myanmar in February 2021, this is the first time a delegation from Bangladesh has gone to visit this south-eastern country of Asia to discuss the issue of repatriation.

An official involved with the Rohingya repatriation procedure told Prothom Alo that Myanmar has already agreed to repatriate the Rohingyas to their villages in Rakhine.

Now, Bangladesh will place stress on steps Myanmar has already taken and what steps it will take in the future to reestablish the confidence of the Rohingyas to return home, he added.

When asked about the steps of reestablishing confidence among the Rohingyas, that official said that the main obstacle on the way to repatriation is the sense of insecurity among the Rohingyas. They still don't feel safe to go there (Myanmar).  

If they do not feel safe, Bangladesh won’t send any Rohingya to Rakhaine by force. Bangladesh is persistent on the commitment of willful, safe and dignified repatriation.

The Rohingya are supposed to return to Maungdaw in Rakhine. When asked to comment on this, another member of the Bangladeshi delegation told Prothom Alo that the Myanmar government has constructed quite a few houses in Rakhine for the Rohingyas.

But, after going on a visit there and seeing the arrangements the Rohingyas have expressed their disapproval on moving there. Now, some more measures have been promised from Naypyidaw to reestablish their confidence, he added.

This official said further that the repatriated Rohingyas will be given some one-time cash, according to the proposed actions. Alongside that, Myanmar has ensured the issue of them being allowed to return back to their own villages. But, they cannot return home right away.

Under the pilot repatriation project, the Rohingyas will have to live in houses built for them towards the beginning of the repatriation. From there, they will be shifted to their own villages within three months. If any of them wishes to stay in the houses constructed for them, arrangements will be made for that as well.

It has been learnt that a list of 3,000 plus Rohingyas has been submitted for the pilot repatriation project. Alongside ensuring security, protection and dignity of the Rohingyas, Bangladesh is paying special attention to ensure that the Rohingyas on this list are not separated from their families during repatriation and that Rohingyas that lived in the same area can return together.

If Myanmar gives a green signal to this list, then the repatriation will start with Rohingyas from that list. Before starting the repatriation, a delegation from Myanmar will however visit and talk to these Rohingyas in Bangladesh.

Foreign secretary Masud Bin Momen told reporters lately that the ministry of foreign affairs has prepared a list of more than 3,000 Rohingyas for repatriation under the pilot project. The issue concerning how many of them will be repatriated first depends on Myanmar though.