Bangladesh defends China-brokered plan to repatriate Rohingya to Myanmar

DHAKA, Bangladesh – Bangladesh on Sunday defended its plan to repatriate Rohingya refugees to their homeland Myanmar.

However, it assured that they will be brought back if they feel unwell or face danger.

Speaking to reporters in the capital Dhaka, Bangladesh Deputy Foreign Minister Shahriar Alam said the Rohingya would return voluntarily.

Global organizations have called on Bangladesh to drop the plan.

The China-brokered plan is being jointly implemented by Bangladesh and Myanmar.

“This is a trial process, no major repatriation. Rohingya will be sent to Rakhine to monitor the situation. If they feel uncomfortable, there is a chance to bring them back. In that case, we see no argument to go against it,” he added.

Rohingya refugees in Bangladeshi camps have already expressed concern about this repatriation.

They said their lives will not change after being repatriated to Rakhine without citizenship rights.

Bangladesh is home to nearly 1.2 million Rohingya, most of whom fled a brutal military crackdown in Rakhine in August 2017.

While most still live in overcrowded camps in the southern district of Cox’s Bazar, about 30,000 have been relocated to Bhasan Char Island since late 2020.

Alam said a process is underway to involve the United Nations in the repatriation plan.

He also protested a statement by Tom Andrews, the U.N. special rapporteur opposing the repatriation, citing human rights violations in Myanmar.

Alam said Andrews had belittled and dishonored Bangladesh’s efforts. He said the country would report the matter to the U.N.

Last month, Bangladeshi officials visited resettlement camps in Myanmar’s Rakhine state with 20 Rohingya refugees.

However, the delegation expressed concerns about the plan.

International human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, called on the U.S. to halt the repatriation of the Rohingya. They said that conditions for sustainable return are currently unsafe.