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

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

The golden crop: How turmeric is transforming women's lives in tribal India

By Vikas Meshram* When the lush green fields of turmeric sway in the tribal belt of southern Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat, it is not merely a spice crop — it is the golden glow of self-reliance. In villages where even basic spices once had to be bought from the market, the very soil today is yielding a prosperity that has transformed the lives of thousands of families. At the heart of this transformation is the initiative of Vaagdhara, which has linked turmeric with livelihoods, nutrition, and village self-governance — gram swaraj.

Buddhist shrines were 'massively destroyed' by Brahmanical rulers: Historian DN Jha

Nalanda mahavihara By Rajiv Shah Prominent historian DN Jha, an expert in India's ancient and medieval past, in his new book , "Against the Grain: Notes on Identity, Intolerance and History", in a sharp critique of "Hindutva ideologues", who look at the ancient period of Indian history as "a golden age marked by social harmony, devoid of any religious violence", has said, "Demolition and desecration of rival religious establishments, and the appropriation of their idols, was not uncommon in India before the advent of Islam".

Authoritarian destruction of the public sphere in Ecuador: Trumpism in action?

By Pilar Troya Fernández The situation in Ecuador under Daniel Noboa's government is one of authoritarianism advancing on several fronts simultaneously to consolidate neoliberalism and total submission to the US international agenda. These are not isolated measures, but rather a coordinated strategy that combines job insecurity, the dismantling of the welfare state, unrestricted access to mining, the continuation of oil exploitation without environmental considerations, the centralization of power through the financial suffocation of local governments, and the systematic criminalization of all forms of opposition and popular organization.

Echoes of Vietnam and Chile: The devastating cost of the I-A Axis in Iran

By Ram Puniyani The recent joint military actions by Israel and the United States against Iran have been devastating. Like all wars, this conflict is brutal to its core, leaving a trail of human suffering in its wake. The stated pretext for this aggression—the brutality of the Ayatollah Khamenei regime and its nuclear ambitions—clashes sharply with the reality of the diplomatic landscape. Iran had expressed a willingness to remain at the negotiating table, signaling a readiness to concede points emerging from dialogue.

False claim? What Venezuela is witnessing is not surrender but a tactical retreat

By Manolo De Los Santos The early morning hours of January 3, 2026, marked an inflection point in Venezuela and Latin America’s centuries-long struggle for self-determination and independence. Operation Absolute Resolve, ordered by the Trump administration, constituted the most brutal and direct military assault on a sovereign state in the region in recent memory. In a shocking operation that left hundreds dead, President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores were illegally kidnapped from Venezuelan soil and transported to the United States, where they now face fabricated charges in a New York federal detention facility. In the two months since this act of war, a torrent of speculation has emerged from so-called experts and pundits across the political spectrum. This has followed three main lines: One . The operation’s success indicated treason at the highest levels of the Bolivarian Revolution. Two . Acting President Delcy Rodríguez and the remaining leadership have abandone...

The selective memory of a violent city: Uttam Nagar and the invisible victims of Delhi

By Sunil Kumar* Hundreds of murders take place in Delhi every year, yet only a few incidents become topics of nationwide discussion. The question is: why does this happen? Today, the incident in Uttam Nagar has become the centre of national debate. A 26-year-old man, Tarun Kumar, was killed following a dispute that reportedly began after a balloon hit a small child. In several colonies of Delhi, slogans such as “Jai Shri Ram” and “Vande Mataram” are being raised while demanding the death penalty for Tarun’s killers. As a result, nearly 50,000 residents of Hastsal JJ Colony are now living in what resembles a state of confinement.

The price of silence: Why Modi won’t follow Shastri, appeal for sacrifice

By Arundhati Dhuru, Sandeep Pandey* In 1965, as India grappled with war and a crippling food crisis, Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri faced a United States that used wheat shipments under the PL-480 agreement as a lever to dictate Indian foreign policy. Shastri’s response remains legendary: he appealed to the nation to skip one meal a day. Millions of middle-class households complied, choosing temporary hunger over the sacrifice of national dignity. Today, India faces a modern equivalent in the energy sector, yet the leadership’s response stands in stark contrast to that era of self-reliance.

Gujarat government urged to introduce heat-stress safety rules for construction workers

By A Representative A representation submitted to Gujarat Labour, Skill Development and Employment Minister Kunvarji Bavaliya has urged the state government to introduce legally enforceable safety standards to protect construction workers from extreme heat and heatwaves, and to launch a financial assistance scheme for labourers affected by climate-related health risks.

Search This Blog