Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (retd.) has called for international pressure on Myanmar for the repatriation of Rohingya refugees (forcibly displaced Myanmar citizens).
He made this call during a meeting between the advisor and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Flippo Grandi at his office in the Ministry of Home Affairs at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Thursday (February 27, 2025) afternoon.
During the meeting, various issues related to the repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar, security and economic problems caused by the Rohingyas, Rohingya resettlement activities in different countries, dealing with problems arising from the suspension of financial assistance by the United States international aid agency US-Aid, and the resettlement of Rohingyas in Bhasan Char were discussed.
Welcoming the High Commissioner, the Advisor said that Bangladesh has been sheltering 1.3 million Rohingya refugees for a long time on humanitarian grounds. As Bangladesh is a densely populated country, social and economic problems have increased in the Rohingya-populated areas. In addition, the Rohingya are involved in various criminal activities. As a result, regional security as well as national security are being disrupted.
Thanking the Advisor for Bangladesh’s humanitarian and generous approach towards the Rohingya, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said that the Rohingya refugees have been forced to seek refuge in Bangladesh after being persecuted and displaced in their own country, Myanmar. The current situation in Myanmar is very complex. Moreover, the Bangladesh-Myanmar border is now under the control of the Arakan Army. Therefore, the repatriation of the Rohingyas to Myanmar is not safe at this time. However, the High Commission will continue its best efforts in this regard.
Lieutenant General Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (Retd.) said that if we continue to shelter the Rohingya refugees, the future government of Myanmar may not take them back. He said that the Rohingya are citizens of Myanmar. Therefore, their primary responsibility for their repatriation is also theirs. He said that if the United States stops assisting the Rohingyas through US-AID, then I request the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to provide funds for the Rohingyas through donor agencies and other development partners.
Regarding the rehabilitation of the Rohingyas in Bhasan Char, the High Commissioner said that Bhasan Char is not unsuitable for rehabilitation, but there are few opportunities for economic activities for the Rohingyas there. Since the soil is saline, there are limited opportunities for agricultural work there. At this time, the advisor said that if donor agencies and development partners come forward, economic activities can be created there. Moreover, there is potential for cattle rearing and related industries to develop there.
The meeting was attended by UNHCR’s Director of the Asia-Pacific Regional Bureau Hai Kyung Jun, UNHCR Country Representative Sumbul Rizvi, UNHCR Bangladesh Office Senior External Relations Officer Romain Desclous, and senior officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
