Uncertain Rohingya Repatriation: 125,000 New Infiltrations, 30,000 Awaiting

❐ Special Correspondent

Eight years have passed since the Rohingya infiltration into Cox’s Bazar, but there has been no progress in the repatriation process. On the contrary, new Rohingya are entering Bangladesh almost every day due to the conflict and instability in Rakhine, Myanmar.

According to government data, at least 1.25 million Rohingya have arrived in Bangladesh since November 2023. The current number of Rohingya in the country stands at around 1.4 million. Another 25,000 to 30,000 Rohingya are waiting to enter Bangladesh across the border.

Bibi Fatima, a 26-year-old Rohingya woman from Maungdaw, Myanmar, took refuge in the Leda refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar with her two children two months ago. The Arakan Army killed her family members. They crossed the Naf River into Bangladesh in search of safety. On the way, one of their family members went missing. Like Bibi Fatima, there are countless men and women who have entered Cox’s Bazar from different regions in the past few months.

The law and order situation in Cox’s Bazar is becoming increasingly unstable due to the Rohingya.

According to police data, there have been at least 300 murders in the camps in the last 8 years. During that time, 287 cases have been filed. In the first 8 months of this year alone, 250 cases have been filed in the Rohingya camps; of these, 150 are drug-related, 50 are kidnappings, and 12 are rape cases.

About 50,000 children are born in Rohingya camps every year. More than 400,000 Rohingya children are currently facing uncertainty. More than 6,400 NGO-run informal schools have closed or reduced their hours due to a decline in international aid.

According to the United Nations, the education sector needs $72 million this year, but less than $10 million has been raised so far.

The UN’s total humanitarian assistance budget request was $934 million, but as of July 12, only $303 million had been received. This resulted in only 32 percent of the required assistance being met.

According to the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), there are brokers active on both sides of the border. They are helping Rohingyas enter Bangladesh in exchange for money. The Arakan Army and other groups are also involved in this process. In the last eight months, the Arakan Army has kidnapped at least 240 fishermen from the Naf River and its surroundings.

At least 800,000 Rohingya entered Bangladesh in the months after August 25, 2017. But Myanmar has not taken back a single Rohingya in the past eight years. In 2022, a pilot project brokered by China included 1,140 people in the list of repatriations, but it did not take effect.

Cox’s Bazar Civil Society President Abu Morshed Chowdhury said, “Not a single Rohingya has returned in 8 years, but new infiltrations continue. This is increasing the crime rate.”

Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Mohammad Mizanur Rahman said that the risk of Rohingya infiltration is increasing due to the ongoing war in Myanmar. A three-day conference has begun in Cox’s Bazar to seek international support for the Rohingya issue.

The issue of resolving this crisis and budget support will be raised at the UN Rohingya conference in New York in September.