World Refugee Day -11 lakh Rohiyngas on Bangladesh’s shoulder
Refugee camp, photo: Barta24.com
Today the 20th June is World Refugee Day. Now about 11 lakh Rohiyngas are now residing in Bangladesh after fleeing from Myanmar for their safety. Such a huge Rohiyngas have become a burden for Bangladesh.
These Rohiyngas are now living on the hill top of Ukhia and Teknaf of Cox’s Bazar. As the camps are unguarded they have been roaming and living openly creating social hazards. Locals have demanded to shift these Rohiyngas to Bhasanchar island of Noakhali to control these Rohiyngas. They are also demanding to create pressure on Myanmar government to take back their people.
Rohiynga influx in Bangladesh:
The influx of Rohiyngas in Bangladesh is not new. First, some few lakh of Rohiyngas came to Bangladesh after fleeing from Myanmar in 1978. It was alleged that at that time there was huge human rights violation cases had been occurring. In 1978 about 3.5 lakh Rohiyngas took shelter in Cox’s Bazar, Ramu, Naikhangchari, Ukhia and Teknaf. At that time there was no International help and official shelter camps in Bangladesh for those refugees. But after successful bilateral talks between Bangladesh- Myanmar in short time two lakh Rohiyngas returned to their homeland. The rest stayed back in Bangladesh. They are now living as citizens of this country. In 1992 again facing immense torture about 2.50 lakh entered Bangladesh.
They took shelter in 14 camps in Bundarban and Cox’s Bazar. Most of the camps were set up in Forest department’s land. In 2012 when ethnic conflicts erupted in Mongdu to Akiab area torture again began on the Rohiyngas. In 2016 there were some incidents of police outposts attacks in Rakhaine sate. The Myanmar authority claimed that the Rohiyngas were responsible for the police camp attack. Next day the Myanmar army carried on attacks on the Rohiyngas . Some 87 thousand Rohiyngas fled the country to save their lives.
Lastly on August 25 of 2017 there were incidents of attack on 24 police outposts at a time. After the attacks on police the Myanmar army had started annihilation of the Rohiyngas in the name of suppressing criminals. Due to all round attack on them through killing, arson, and also forcible sexual abuse about 7.5 lakh Rohiyngas including old, young, women and children entered Bangladesh after long troublesome trekking. They took shelter on the hill top of Ukhia and Teknaf and also in the plain land. About 34 camps were built for them. About ten thousand acres of forest land were destroyed to accommodate them.
Repatriation process:
To take back the Rohiyngas the Myanmar government inked a memorandum of understanding with Bangladesh on November 23 of 2017 at the huge pressure of the International communities. But the repatriation is yet to start though several meetings were held during this time. Next in a meeting held November 15 of 2018 a date for repatriation was fixed. All preparations were taken for their return. The first batch was supposed to be sent through Ghumdhum transit point. But the Rohiyngas did not agree to go back due to torture and disparity on them still going there that stalled the repatriation process.
The number of registered Rohiyngas:
At present there are 11 lakh 28 thousand 554 Rohiyngas are now under biometric registration. However that biometric program is now stopped. This biometric registration program was carried out by Immigration and passport directorate. It is an old allegation that the Rohiyngas have been fleeing from the camps. It is the observation of some quarters that it is urgent that whether all biometrically registered Rohiyngas are still in the camps or not.
Crimes increasing:
According to police statistics about 230 crime incidents occurred in Rohiyngas camps during last two years. There were 25 murders. About 200 Rohiyngas were made accused in these murder cases. The Rohiynas are involved in arms case, drug peddling, passport forgery, women and children repression, abduction, theft, dacoity and so on. During last one and half years about 56 thousand were arrested and taken back to camps while they were fleeing to Malaysia by sea route.
Local people’s concern:
The refugee camps are spreading over Ukhia and Teknaf. The total population of these two upazilla is about 5.5 lakh while the number of Rohiyngas fleeing from Myanmar is more that 11 lakh. With the passage of time the restless situations in Rohiynga camps are increasing. Crimes are increasing. Such situation has put the locals on fire place. Every day the locals are facing pressure for the Rohiyngas. Observers are expressing concerns that all these problems may lead to a big crisis.
An official of Arakan Rohiynga Society for Peace and Human Rights(ARASPH) told Barta24.com we don’t want that the Rohiyngas stay here for a long time. Bangladesh is not our home land. We don’t want to stay in the camps. We want to go back to our own country. During last two years many international dignitaries of EEU, OIC and many representatives visited our camps and observed our painful life but no result came.
Teknaf Upazilla parishad chairman Nurul Alam told Barta24.com due to falsehood of Myanmar, the repatriation process is stalled. The Rohiyngas are now spreading around the country bringing some unmanageable situation. However the government is working to contain these problems.
Mohammad Abul Kalam, Commissioner of Cox’s Bazar Refugee, Relief and Repatriation(CRRR) told Barta24.com the number of old and new Rohiyngas now living in Teknaf and Ukhia upazilla is about 10 lakh. Arrangements have been taken to observe the ‘World Refugee Day’ in some camps. There will be rally, discussion meetings, sports and games and projections of documentary films on the Rohiyngas.
