How should Bangladesh handle the Rohingya issue now that its diplomatic friends – India and China – are siding with Myanmar?
It is truly disheartening to see that these two countries, particularly India, have taken a position inimical to Bangladesh’s interests. The government in the past years cultivated close relationships with both countries, yet in a time of need, neither seems to have come forward strongly.
Although India has softened its rhetoric in terms of its support for Myanmar and said it will stand by Bangladesh, this is far less than what was expected, especially considering the political, economic and security cooperation between these two countries in the past seven years. The mixed message from India is unhelpful. That is why engaging with India and trying to influence the Modi government to reconsider its position should be a priority.
It is a glimmer of hope that China agreed to a resolution at the UN Security Council condemning Myanmar, but it also blocked a proposal from Egypt in regard to the right to return of the Rohingya who are currently in Bangladesh.
Dhaka cannot wait until either of these countries change their stance. It must engage in a robust diplomatic effort to sway global public opinion in favour of immediate steps to ameliorate the plight of the refugees. Bangladesh needs to work closely with the multilateral bodies, the European Union, the OIC [Organisation of Islamic Cooperation], and the members of Asean [the Association of Southeast Asian Nations] to ensure immediate support for the refugees and a long-term solution to the problems which has triggered this situation.How do you see the plan of setting up a safe zone for the Rohingya in Bangladesh?
On paper, it is an excellent idea. However, whether it is a feasible option is an open question. Lately, there has been no successes in setting up “safe zones” in conflict areas, but a concrete suggestion to address the situation is a positive step.
Bangladesh can flesh out the proposal and bring this to the attention of the international community. There is a downside to the proposal, too. It may be misconstrued as an attempt to carve out an autonomous region for the Rohingya within Myanmar.In the long run, what sort of economic and social burden will the Rohingya refugees create, and what can Bangladesh do to handle it?
Providing food, shelter and other services to the refugees is a monumental and costly endeavour. According to one account of 1992-93 [the most recent mass flight of Rohingya to Bangladesh before this one], Bangladesh had to spend $2.5 million and the UNHCR, donors, and NGOs paid the remainder. I am afraid that this time it will be much higher for Bangladesh, although international bodies have already got involved. Bangladesh may have to divert some of its development resources to address the situation, which will affect the ongoing projects. Whether this will affect the availability of food is an important issue and needs to be kept in mind.
There will be a significant environmental cost, which the country will have to bear. The refugees are being housed in camps near the border, an area that is already volatile as relationships between various segments of the inhabitants are already tensed. It is imperative that the safety of the refugees and the locals is provided in equal measure. Equally important is to make sure that Bangladeshi militants, with or without external connections, are not infiltrating the refugee camps.How can Bangladesh mount pressure on Myanmar using diplomatic channels?
As we are aware, there were almost 300,000 refugees even before this influx. For years, Bangladesh has tried to address the refugee issue at the bilateral level. Despite the success of bilateral efforts in 1978-79 and between 1993 and 1997, the Myanmar government has not acted expeditiously and judiciously since.
Now with the new influx of almost 400,000 additional refugees, Bangladesh needs to seek help from Myanmar’s Asean friends. Dhaka should suggest that the UN, EU, US and others use their economic leverages. In the past year, many countries have increased their investments in Myanmar; a message can be sent to Myanmar that these investments are at stake if the instability continues.How could Bangladesh repatriate the Rohingya in future?
Repatriation will not be easy without ensuring the safety of the refugees when they return home. Bangladesh must seek guarantees from international organisations such as the UNHCR and the IOM [International Organisation for Migration] that the refugees will be protected. Dhaka must provide UNHCR with unfettered access to the refugees so they can document every individual who has crossed the border,and also ensure that these desperate people do not fall prey to unscrupulous human traffickers and radical groups.How should Bangladesh respond to the insurgency affecting its neighbour?
Insurgency is Myanmar’s internal problem. Let us not forget that numerous ethnic groups have been fighting against the government for decades. There is no reason for Bangladesh to get involved. Bangladesh can be neither the safe haven nor the recruiting ground for the insurgents. It should neither be friendly nor hostile towards the insurgents unless they pose security threat to Bangladesh. Either of these will drag Bangladesh into an unnecessary and dangerous conflict.What can the international community do to compel Myanmar to accept the Rohingya as legitimate citizens?
I hope that the UN General Assembly will deliver a stronger message. I am encouraged by the European Parliament’s resolution which not only condemned the Myanmar government but also threatened “targeted punitive sanctions.” Although the Annan Commission report has not pressed for providing citizenship to all Rohingya residing in Myanmar, it has clearly said the citizenship issue has to be addressed quickly. This is a good beginning and the international community should use the report as a point of departure. Multilateral bodies, particularly the UN, should come forward to press the Myanmar government. After all, it is the Myanmar government which appointed the commission.How do you rate the diplomatic role of Bangladesh over the Rohingya issue?
Unfortunately, up to now the diplomatic efforts of Bangladesh have fallen far short of what needs to be done. It took almost two weeks for Dhaka to take any steps. It initially offered Myanmar for joint security operations. The scale of the catastrophe warranted a very proactive role of Dhaka, but it was slow to begin with and it has still not caught up. Bangladesh must redouble its efforts. Dhaka needs to understand that it will have to take leadership; there is no other option here.
