It is unfortunate that the police had to detain over 450 Rohingya men, women, and children from different tourist spots in Cox’s Bazar. Reportedly, the Rohingya got out of the camps in Ukhia and Teknaf to spend a couple of days of Eid in Cox’s Bazar.
The Rohingya have been kept in camps not only for their own safety, but to ensure a peaceful transition when the goal of repatriation is achieved. Thus, to see that the security at these camps is so lax that hundreds could get out is a matter of concern.
Ever since the Rohingya massacre started, Bangladesh has been playing host to hundreds of thousands of refugees. This has been a timely decision on part of the government, but the plan was never to host them indefinitely. The plan has always been repatriation -- something that becomes difficult if we can’t keep track of the refugees in the country.
There have been reports of violence and gang activities within the camps as well, with the assassination of a well-known Rohingya political leader last year. The security measure taken at these camps has always been a matter of concern, and this latest incident solidifies that. We need to keep a better eye on these camps. The refugees trust us, and we have to maintain that trust.
We also need to ensure that the refugees are having their needs met at these camps. It is evident that the only reason that these people have deserted their camps is because they wanted some fresh air. Human beings cannot be treated like animals in a pen. The relocation to Bhashan Char has provided some relief, but moving forward, the government has to make a broad assessment of these camps and make changes where necessary.
However, despite our best efforts, it is repatriation that must always be sought as the ultimate objective. The Rohingya deserve to be treated with respect and dignity while within our borders but they must return home where they belong eventually.