Rohingya Crisis: UN can create a permanent solution by taking effective steps

Repatriation of Rohingyas from Bangladesh to Myanmar has been discussed for the last seven years but practically not a single one has been repatriated so far. Moreover, due to the internal conflict situation in Myanmar at the moment, this repatriation is now more uncertain. Although many parties have expressed optimism at various times to resolve this issue. But the result was not as expected. Many believe that a 'positive outcome' will come soon in the case against Myanmar in the international court. Various seminars and symposiums are being held on this subject. But there is no permanent solution. 

Countless people became refugees during World War II in the context of conflict and political instability. At the end of the war, more than 40 million people were refugees in Europe alone. The United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) was established by the Allies in World War II in 1943; Its main task was to help refugees from Europe and China, including countries controlled by the Axis powers during World War II. Seven million people returned to their homes under their control and direct assistance. However, one million refugees refused to return to their homeland. In the final months of World War II, approximately five million German civilians sought refuge in Mecklenburg, Brandenburg, and Saxony from the Red Army's advance from the states of East Prussia, Pomerania, and Silesia. In 1991-92, more than 250,000 Rohingya refugees sought refuge in Bangladesh to escape persecution by Myanmar's military junta. Many of them have been staying in Bangladesh for twenty years. Bangladesh's government has divided them into two categories. Recognized Rohingya residing in a refugee camp; the other is the unrecognized Rohingya population that has mixed with the Bangladeshi community. Thirty thousand Rohingyasare living in two camps in the Nayapara and Kutupalongareas of Cox's Bazar. Due to war conflicts in the world, the number of refugees has increased by almost 50 million in one year. By the end of 2023, a record 7.59 million people have become internally displaced. At the end of last year, there were 71.1 million refugees in the world.

Bangladesh has already sheltered around 1.3 million Rohingya. There is a kind of pressure on Bangladesh. After that, the UN and international groups are again calling for the rehabilitation of the Rohingya. Myanmar's internal conflict and the Myanmar Army's clash with the Arakan Army (AA) in Rakhine continue to intensify. Across the border, the AA is fighting with the Myanmar army in several townships in Rakhine. Several Rohingyavillages have been burnt there. Unable to withstand the intensity of the conflict, the Rohingyas are fleeing towards the Bangladesh border in fear of their lives. Many people think that AA is forcing the Rohingyasliving in those areas to leave their homes by burning their villages.

Myanmar's army has lost control of many areas to the AA in Rakhine State in the ongoing conflict. During clashes with AA in Rohingya-inhabited areas, the Myanmar Army forcibly captures Rohingyas and orders them to fight with AA. They are inciting inter-communal violence by forcing Rohingyas to engage in conflict with AA in the name of protecting themselves from AA attacks in their areas. The conflict has escalated again in Myanmar's Rakhine state, with reports of beheadings, killings, and burning of houses. Another 45,000 Rohingya have fled and taken shelter near the Bangladesh border to avoid such a dire situation, Al Jazeera reported, citing the United Nations.

In the meantime, UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, Thomas Andus, called on Bangladesh to withdraw from the 'closed border' policy to shelter the displaced Rohingya in the wake of the ongoing crisis in Rakhine. Although the United Nations, donor countries, and organizations are working to solve the Rohingya crisis, the generosity of Bangladesh is the only hope for the Rohingya. The UN Special Rapporteur has also called on all countries in the world to come forward with emergency funds to improve the situation of the Rohingya camps inside Bangladesh. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk called on Bangladesh and other countries to provide security and shelter to Rohingya refugees in Myanmar. Journalists of many organizations, including the international news agency Al Jazeera, have already said that the number of Rohingyas resettled in Bangladesh cannot be accepted by Bangladesh until there is a permanent solution. Moreover, already alarming, donor groups have reduced their aid. As a result, it is very difficult for Bangladesh to take new pressure. Moreover, it is natural to ask why those who are calling for Bangladesh are not taking effective positive steps. What Bangladesh has already contributed, no one else has done for the Rohingyas. The question is,international groups including the United Nations can create a permanent solution to this issue by taking effective steps. But we don't see any effective action in that regard. It should be noted that there is already a funding crisis in Aurrah Jabangdarhong Chasdhah(Aurrah), which was formed in cooperation with the Rohingyas. Incidentally, it is good to say that no other country in the world is showing sincerity or generosity in the repatriation of Rohingyas. Even the way Bangladesh has shown sincerity or generosity in accepting about 13 lakh refugees, no other country in the world has accepted refugees so generously. The saddest thing is that as part of Bangladesh's diplomatic efforts, various countries have negotiated with Myanmar to try to repatriate them, but so far not a single Rohingya has been sent back.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called on the International Organization of Migration (IOM) to raise more funds to help the Rohingya in Bangladesh from new sources. The Prime Minister said, "As the funds for the assistance of the displaced Rohingya from Myanmar (in Bangladesh) have decreased, IOM should find new partners to raise more funds for this purpose."

Bangladesh also has to manage the refugee camps with its own pocket money i.e. people's tax money. The unfortunate Rohingya community is being deprived of everything. Their minimum livelihood opportunities and benefits are being lost. Meanwhile, there is no significant noise anywhere about Rohingya repatriation.

Writer: Dr. Sultan Mahmud, Professor, Dept. of Political Science, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh.