Myanmar not sincere about taking Rohingyas back

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has reiterated his frustration over Myanmar’s continued reluctance to take back the Rohingyas who are sheltered in Cox’s Bazar, alleging that they are not sincere about the repatriation of its own people.

He also warned that the prolonging the crisis will create pockets of radicalization, which will affect everyone as terrorists have no boundaries.

“The Myanmar government again and again agreed to take back their people [the Rohingyas]. But they have a lack of sincerity,” Momen said at the inauguration of a two-day photo exhibition, titled “Flash on Rohingya Genocide,” at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in Dhaka on Thursday. 

“We have provided Myanmar with the names of more than 100,000 Rohingyas, but they have so far cleared only 8,000 names,” the foreign minister said, adding that two attempts have been made to begin the repatriation process, both of which were unsuccessful due to Myanmar’s failure to create a conducive environment for the persecuted people.

More than 730,000 Rohingyas have crossed over to Bangladesh in the latest episode of exodus, which began in August 2017, fleeing violent persecution carried out by Myanmar security forces and civilians.  

“The problem lies with Myanmar, and the solution also lies with Myanmar,” Dr Momen said, stressing that Dhaka wants to resolve this problem with Naypyidaw amicably.

There is a trust deficit between the Myanmar government and the Rohingyas, he further said, reiterating his suggestions for the authorities concerned to take some Rohingya community leaders from the refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar to the Rakhine state, where the Rohingyas are from, to see the condition for themselves, and put in place a mechanism comprising civilians from other countries to monitor the repatriation. 

But Myanmar is not agreeable to these suggestions, the foreign minister said.

Referring to the recent resolution adopted at the United Nations General Assembly, the foreign minister said that, apart from a few countries, the whole world is with Bangladesh on the Rohingya issue. 

“Four countries neighbouring Myanmar told us that they voted against [the resolution], because their neighbour is strong,” he said, without elaboration.