Eight years after the mass exodus of Rohingya refugees into Bangladesh, the prospect of their repatriation remains stagnant.
Despite diplomatic efforts and international attention, not a single Rohingya has been returned to Myanmar since the crisis began in August 2017.
The influx began on August 25, 2017, as Myanmar’s military launched a violent crackdown in Rakhine State, prompting hundreds of thousands of Rohingya to flee across the border. Since then, Bangladesh has taken in approximately 1.3 million Rohingya, mostly housed in sprawling refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar.
Complicating the situation further, recent clashes between the Arakan Army and Myanmar's military in Rakhine have sparked renewed instability. The Arakan Army now reportedly controls much of Rakhine State, raising additional barriers to any potential repatriation and making the situation more precarious for return.
In response, Bangladesh's caretaker government has initiated a series of international engagements on the Rohingya issue. Three high-level conferences, jointly organised by the United Nations, Qatar, and Bangladesh, are scheduled between August and December.
The first of these, titled "Stakeholder Dialogue: Key Messages for the High-Level Conference on the Rohingya Situation", will take place on Monday (August 25) in Cox’s Bazar. Nobel Laureate and Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus is expected to attend as the chief guest. The event will bring together diplomats, international envoys, UN agency representatives, and officials from Bangladesh missions abroad. Rohingya representatives from the local camps and other countries will also participate.
A second conference is scheduled for September 30 in New York, to be held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. The third will be hosted in Doha, Qatar, on December 6.
The foundation for Rohingya repatriation was laid on November 23, 2017, when Bangladesh and Myanmar signed a Memorandum of Understanding. A joint working group was subsequently formed during a visit by a Myanmar delegation to Dhaka on December 19 of that year. However, this group has yet to yield any tangible progress.
Speaking on the issue, Bangladesh’s National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman said, “We seek a prompt and lasting solution to the Rohingya crisis. They must return to their homes. If international aid diminishes, it will negatively impact the host communities. We are working to ensure the continuation of support.”
He added that the Cox’s Bazar conference on August 25 is part of Bangladesh’s preparations for the September 30 international conference at the UN.
As the crisis enters its ninth year, hopes for voluntary, safe, and dignified repatriation remain elusive, with security conditions in Myanmar deteriorating and the humanitarian burden on Bangladesh growing heavier.
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