According to the bilateral instrument signed between Bangladesh and Myanmar on November 23, 2017, the repatriation should have begun within January 22, 2018. The whole repatriation was to be complete by January 22, 2020. And, Myanmar was supposed to create a conducive environment for the return of the Rohingyas. However, one year after the passing of the deadline for the completion of the repatriation, Myanmar is expressing commitment to begin the return of the Rohingyas. Is it anything short of a mockery? perhaps, not.
Myanmar now wants more time to begin the repatriation, which was due more than three years ago. Foreign secretary-level joint working group was formed. The group also had held multiple meetings and agreed on the modalities.
So, everything is in place. All Myanmar needs to do is to provide a date for beginning the repatriation if it has will. Unfortunately, it is not willing to take back its own people. There would not be two failed attempts of starting the repatriation if Myanmar had the will.
The ground reality clearly demonstrates that Myanmar's words are not at all enough. The statements of their hierarchies cannot, unfortunately, be taken seriously. And, Bangladesh must not relax based on what Myanmar says. Undertaking a 'seeing is believing' approach, Dhaka must press Naypyitaw as hard as possible to do something visible to reflect its seriousness as regards to the repatriation. By doing so, Myanmar will not do any favour to Bangladesh, rather it will fulfill its obligation to take its own people back, which is their inherent right.
Myanmar now wants more time to begin the repatriation, which was due more than three years ago. Foreign secretary-level joint working group was formed. The group also had held multiple meetings and agreed on the modalities.
So, everything is in place. All Myanmar needs to do is to provide a date for beginning the repatriation if it has will. Unfortunately, it is not willing to take back its own people. There would not be two failed attempts of starting the repatriation if Myanmar had the will.
The ground reality clearly demonstrates that Myanmar's words are not at all enough. The statements of their hierarchies cannot, unfortunately, be taken seriously. And, Bangladesh must not relax based on what Myanmar says. Undertaking a 'seeing is believing' approach, Dhaka must press Naypyitaw as hard as possible to do something visible to reflect its seriousness as regards to the repatriation. By doing so, Myanmar will not do any favour to Bangladesh, rather it will fulfill its obligation to take its own people back, which is their inherent right.
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