PM heads committee on Rohingya repatriation strategy

The government has formed an 11-member national committee, headed by the prime minister, to formulate a strategy for the speedy and sustainable repatriation of Rohingyas and coordinate the roles of law enforcement and intelligence agencies involved in the process.

The Cabinet Division issued a gazette notification on Sunday announcing the formation of the ‘National Strategy Formulation Committee for Rohingya Affairs’.

According to the notification, the committee will set priorities on key issues related to Rohingya repatriation, oversee coordination among relevant ministries and agencies, and define the responsibilities and operational areas of law enforcement agencies and intelligence organisations.

The committee includes the home minister, the foreign minister, the adviser to the finance and planning ministry, and the adviser to the defence ministry and the Armed Forces Division as members.

The principal staff officer of the Armed Forces Division was made the chief coordinator, while the director general of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence was made the member secretary.

The other members of the committee are the inspector general of police, director general of the National Security Intelligence, director general of the Border Guard Bangladesh and director general of the Bangladesh Coast Guard. 

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The Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner, additional inspector general of police (Special Branch), and five other officials have been included as supporting members.

The notification said that a Special Board would be formed under the direct supervision of the chief coordinator to prepare the national strategy for the quick and sustainable repatriation of the Rohingya people.

The board will determine specific responsibilities for the relevant ministries and agencies and submit the strategy to the national committee within 90 days.

The DGFI will provide the committee with necessary manpower, infrastructure and secretarial support, according to the notification.

It said that, if required, other intelligence agencies or law enforcement bodies could be assigned such responsibilities for a specified period based on the committee’s decision and directives from the chair.

The committee may also co-opt the heads of military or civilian law enforcement agencies or any suitable person for a specified period whenever necessary.

Bangladesh is currently hosting more than 13 lakh Rohingyas, including around 7.5 lakh who fled Myanmar’s Rakhine State following a military crackdown in 2017.