180,000 Rohingyas identified for repatriation from Bangladesh: Will Myanmar act?

By Ibrahim Khalil Ahasan*

A recent development has emerged regarding the potential repatriation of Rohingya refugees. Myanmar authorities have identified 180,000 individuals from a list of 800,000 Rohingyas currently residing in Bangladesh as eligible for return. The identification process was confirmed during the sixth BIMSTEC summit in Bangkok on April 4, where Myanmar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister informed Dr. Khalilur Rahman, High Representative of the Chief Advisor to Bangladesh. Additionally, verification of another 70,000 individuals is currently underway.

Bangladesh submitted this list in six phases between 2018 and 2020. This marks the first occasion that Myanmar has responded with a confirmed list of Rohingya eligible for repatriation, a development seen by some observers as a step forward. Myanmar has also stated its intention to expedite the verification of the remaining 550,000 individuals on the list.

While efforts for repatriation have previously involved both bilateral and multilateral negotiations, substantial progress has remained elusive until now. The Bangladesh government initially internationalized the Rohingya issue and continues to advocate for a phased approach to repatriation. Discussions between Dhaka and Naypyidaw are expected to proceed based on the verified list.

The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has also urged Myanmar to ensure the safe and sustainable return of the Rohingyas. His involvement is considered a positive development, with expectations that the UN could play a significant role in the process.

Despite these recent moves, challenges remain. The current security situation in Rakhine State, particularly due to ongoing conflict between the Arakan Army and Myanmar’s military (the junta), raises concerns about the feasibility of safe repatriation. The junta reportedly lacks control in Rakhine, complicating any return process. Engaging with all relevant actors, including the Arakan Army, may become necessary for progress.

Strategic diplomatic actions are now essential. Bangladesh may need to:

1. Continue highlighting the Rohingya issue internationally.

2. Maintain a balanced approach to relations with Myanmar’s military and local power structures in Rakhine.

3. Strengthen partnerships with key stakeholders including China, ASEAN countries (notably Malaysia and Indonesia), and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

During a recent visit to China, Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus expressed hope that China would adopt a more active role in facilitating Rohingya repatriation. Chinese President Xi Jinping reportedly assured support on this matter. Shortly afterward, Myanmar’s announcement regarding the 180,000 verified individuals was interpreted by some analysts as influenced by diplomatic pressure from external parties, including China.

However, intensified conflict in Myanmar, particularly in Rakhine, poses risks to any planned repatriation. Should the Myanmar government fail to regain control in the region, the practical implementation of repatriation may face further delays or obstacles. Moreover, even if central control is reestablished, local governance structures may continue to be influenced by Rakhine-based actors, necessitating further negotiations.

The prolonged delay in repatriation has led to rising concerns about crime and instability within Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar. With over 1.25 million registered refugees residing in Bangladesh, continued international support is critical. However, funding from donor countries and agencies has shown signs of decline, raising additional concerns. Ensuring timely and sustainable repatriation remains a priority for Bangladesh, which will require continued diplomatic engagement and international cooperation.

---

*Bangladesh-based independent columnist and freelance journalist

Comments

How natural and organic farming can be a key to combating the climate crisis

By Raj Kumar Sinha* On July 9, while addressing the “Sahkar Samvad” in Ahmedabad with women and workers associated with cooperatives from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan, Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized that natural farming is essential for both our health and the health of the soil. This is a significant statement in the context of addressing the climate change crisis. Natural farming can play a crucial role in combating climate change. Also known as organic farming, it is a system of agriculture that can increase food production without harming the environment. Natural farming has the potential to reduce carbon emissions by 35% to 50%.

100 yrs of RSS as seen by global media house: Power, controversy, push for Hindu-first India

By Rajiv Shah On a blistering summer evening in Nagpur, nearly a thousand men in brown trousers, white shirts, and black caps stood in formation as a saffron flag was raised, marking a graduation ceremony for Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) workers. This vivid scene, described in a recent FT Weekend Magazine article, “A hundred years after it was founded, India's Hindu-nationalist movement is getting closer to its goal of a Hindu-first state,” captures the enduring presence of the RSS, a century-old Hindu-nationalist organization.

Why is India’s cheetah project under fire? Study flags ecological, social, species injustices

By Rajiv Shah A recent peer-reviewed study has sharply criticized Project Cheetah—India’s high-profile initiative to reintroduce African cheetahs into the wild—as ethically compromised, scientifically flawed, and socially unjust. Titled “Delineating the Environmental Justice Implications of an Experimental Cheetah Introduction Project in India”, the paper is authored by Yashendu C. Joshi, Stephanie E. Klarmann, and Louise C. de Waal, and was published in Frontiers in Conservation Science.

Another 'honor' killing in Tamil Nadu: Caste pride has murdered love, again

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* Once again, Tamil Nadu has witnessed a brutal so-called 'honor' killing. This time, it is Kevin Selvaganesh, a 27-year-old software engineer from the Scheduled Caste community, who has been hacked to death by the family of the girl he loved since childhood. Kevin, a brilliant student employed at Tata Consultancy Services, was in a relationship with Subashini, his schoolmate and girlfriend. The couple, both well-educated and professionally qualified, had plans to marry. Yet, that love story ended in bloodshed — sacrificed at the altar of caste pride.

The myth of population decline: India’s real challenge is density, not fertility

By N.S. Venkataraman* India’s population in 2025 stands at approximately 1.4 billion. In 1950, it was 359 million, rising sharply to 1.05 billion by 2000. The population continues to grow and is projected to reach around 1.7 billion by 2050.

Siang dam project sparks debate over security, development, and displacement in Arunachal

By Aarna Gupta* The proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) in Arunachal Pradesh, India, has emerged as a contentious initiative shaped by strategic, environmental, and social concerns. Indian officials, including Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, have voiced strong support for the project. One of the primary motivations is China’s plan to build a 60,000 MW hydropower dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo River (the upper stretch of the Brahmaputra) in Tibet, which Indian authorities see as a threat to water and national security. In response, the 11,000 MW Siang Dam, with its 9 billion cubic meter reservoir, is viewed as a necessary countermeasure to manage water flow and reduce vulnerability.

Shanghai Textbook reassessed: Between revolutionary rhetoric and economic reality

By Harsh Thakor "Maoist Economics and the Revolutionary Road to Communism: The Shanghai Textbook on Socialist Political Economy" (1975) presents a detailed exposition of the Chinese perspective on socialist political economy under Mao . Developed during the Cultural Revolution, it outlines a theoretical framework for the functioning of a socialist alternative to capitalism. The book was formulated under the direction of Zhang Chunqiao, who played a central role in discussions, content planning, and final reviews of the draft.

Trump’s tariff tactics are a geopolitical bully move that may backfire

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent move to impose high tariffs on Indian goods is yet another example of his aggressive, unilateralist economic policy—an attempt to pressure and punish rather than to negotiate. This is not an isolated action. Trump has shown similar hostility toward other countries aligned with the BRICS bloc—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—reflecting his disdain for multipolar global cooperation and his desire to maintain American economic supremacy at all costs.

Search This Blog