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

Whither space for the marginalised in Kerala's privately-driven townships after landslides?

By Ipshita Basu, Sudheesh R.C. In the early hours of July 30 2024, a landslide in the Wayanad district of Kerala state, India, killed 400 people. The Punjirimattom, Mundakkai, Vellarimala and Chooralmala villages in the Western Ghats mountain range turned into a dystopian rubble of uprooted trees and debris.

Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar’s views on religion as Tagore’s saw them

By Harasankar Adhikari Religion has become a visible subject in India’s public discourse, particularly where it intersects with political debate. Recent events, including a mass Gita chanting programme in Kolkata and other incidents involving public expressions of faith, have drawn attention to how religion features in everyday life. These developments have raised questions about the relationship between modern technological progress and traditional religious practice.

Election bells ringing in Nepal: Can ousted premier Oli return to power?

By Nava Thakuria* Nepal is preparing for a national election necessitated by the collapse of KP Sharma Oli’s government at the height of a Gen Z rebellion (youth uprising) in September 2025. The polls are scheduled for 5 March. The Himalayan nation last conducted a general election in 2022, with the next polls originally due in 2027. However, following the dissolution of Nepal’s lower house of Parliament last year by President Ram Chandra Poudel, the electoral process began under the patronage of an interim government installed on 12 September under the leadership of retired Supreme Court judge Sushila Karki. The Hindu-majority nation of over 29 million people will witness more than 3,400 electoral candidates, including 390 women, representing 68 political parties as well as independents, vying for 165 seats in the 275-member House of Representatives.

Jayanthi Natarajan "never stood by tribals' rights" in MNC Vedanta's move to mine Niyamigiri Hills in Odisha

By A Representative The Odisha Chapter of the Campaign for Survival and Dignity (CSD), which played a vital role in the struggle for the enactment of historic Forest Rights Act, 2006 has blamed former Union environment minister Jaynaynthi Natarjan for failing to play any vital role to defend the tribals' rights in the forest areas during her tenure under the former UPA government. Countering her recent statement that she rejected environmental clearance to Vendanta, the top UK-based NMC, despite tremendous pressure from her colleagues in Cabinet and huge criticism from industry, and the claim that her decision was “upheld by the Supreme Court”, the CSD said this is simply not true, and actually she "disrespected" FRA.

Gig workers hold online strike on republic day; nationwide protests planned on February 3

By A Representative Gig and platform service workers across the country observed a nationwide online strike on Republic Day, responding to a call given by the Gig & Platform Service Workers Union (GIPSWU) to protest what it described as exploitation, insecurity and denial of basic worker rights in the platform economy. The union said women gig workers led the January 26 action by switching off their work apps as a mark of protest.

With infant mortality rate of 5, better than US, guarantee to live is 'alive' in Kerala

By Nabil Abdul Majeed, Nitheesh Narayanan In 1945, two years prior to India's independence, the current Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, was born into a working-class family in northern Kerala. He was his mother’s fourteenth child; of the thirteen siblings born before him, only two survived. His mother was an agricultural labourer and his father a toddy tapper. They belonged to a downtrodden caste, deemed untouchable under the Indian caste system.

Stands 'exposed': Cavalier attitude towards rushed construction of Char Dham project

By Bharat Dogra* The nation heaved a big sigh of relief when the 41 workers trapped in the under-construction Silkyara-Barkot tunnel (Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand) were finally rescued on November 28 after a 17-day rescue effort. All those involved in the rescue effort deserve a big thanks of the entire country. The government deserves appreciation for providing all-round support.

Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb: Akbar to Shivaji -- the cross-cultural alliances that built India

By Ram Puniyani What is Indian culture? Is it purely Hindu, or a blend of many influences? Today, Hindu right-wing advocates of Hindutva claim that Indian culture is synonymous with Hindu culture, which supposedly resisted "Muslim invaders" for centuries. This debate resurfaced recently in Kolkata at a seminar titled "The Need to Protect Hinduism from Hindutva."

Report finds 28 communal riots, 14 mob lynching incidents targeting Muslims

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* A study released by the Mumbai-based Centre for Study of Society and Secularism (CSSS), supported by data from India Hate Lab, documents incidents of violence and targeting of Muslims across India in 2025. The report compiles press accounts and fact-finding material to highlight broad trends in communal conflict, mob attacks, and hate speech.

Search This Blog