BD-UN cooperation on Rohingyas

The influx of over a million Rohingya people in Bangladesh contributed to a plethora of socio-economic and security problems for the country. They have been subjected to the monstrous process of ethnic cleansing by the military and other evil forces inside Myanmar, and finding no respite the victims fled towards Bangladesh to save their lives. The saga started in August 2017 and since then this huge population, legitimate nationals of the state of Myanmar, is living inside Bangladesh as refugees.

On Saturday, the Bangladesh government and the United Nations (UN) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a common protection and policy framework for a humanitarian response to the Rohingyas living in Bhasan Char. The MoU was signed between the disaster management and relief ministry and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), on behalf of the UN agencies working on the Rohingya response in Bangladesh.

This instrument of cooperation between Bangladesh and the UN will help to implement certain measures for the benefit of the long suffering Rohingya population until the latter can return safely and sustainably to Myanmar. The MoU is a formality observed by the two authorities to reconfirm their commitment to continue supporting displaced Rohingyas in the country. The agreement relating to the Bhasan Char enclave will expedite collaboration between the government and the UN regarding different types of services and activities for the increasing number of Rohingyas living on the island.

Addressing the vital issues of protection, education, skills and training, livelihoods and health will help the stranded refugees to lead a decent life on the island and better prepare them for their return to Myanmar in the future. Understandably, the UN response will build up and complement the humanitarian assistance so far provided by the government and local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on the island.

It is to be noted that before signing the instrument of cooperation, UN officials held discussions with the Rohingya community in Cox’s Bazar and those already on the island so that they may have a full insight into their needs and views. The exchange of ideas and opinions among the government officials, NGO field workers, UN representatives and the Rohingya community leaders is expected to continue on a regular basis and effectively address humanitarian and protection issues at Bhasan Char. In this regard, the UN encourages the international community to increase its generous support to the humanitarian response in Bangladesh, recognising the fact that the Joint Response Plan for the Rohingya Humanitarian Response in Cox’s Bazar is running short of funds needed to run the operation.

There is no denying that safe and sustainable return of the stranded Rohingyas to their own land remains a shared priority of the UN and the government of Bangladesh, as well as the desire of the Rohingya refugees. On a number of occasions, the refugees expressed their desire to go back to their own country and live a healthy active life. Despite repeated diplomatic steps taken by the Bangladesh government to start a dialogue in this regard, the Myanmar authorities remained non-responsive. Bangladesh continues to provide shelter to this large number of foreigners completely on humanitarian ground,  taking myriad social, economic and security risks.

This may be recalled that Bangladesh Navy has implemented the Ashryan-3 project on Bhashan Char at a cost of Tk 3,100 crore for accommodating 100,000 Rohingyas. So far, nearly 20,000 Rohingyas have been relocated to the island from Cox’s Bazar. A Number of brick-built cluster villages and some cyclone shelters have been built there. Authorities set up facilities for education, hospital, farming, fishing and playground. It is good to learn that because of the presence of law enforcers round the clock refugees find the island a much better living place than the Cox’s Bazar camps.

Reportedly, Bangladesh has so far provided the Myanmar authorities with biometric data of 8,30,000 Rohingyas while the latter has verified only 42,000. Myanmar, so far, has not taken back a single Rohingya in the last four years, on the other hand, Rohingyas are still concerned about their safety and security in the Rakhine state.

We hail the latest development centring the displaced Rohingya community living in Bangladesh and their protection by the government and the UN.