‘Doubts rise over Rohingya repatriation agreement’

Experts and aid groups question implementation process

Rohingya Muslim men and boys carry firewood back to their tents at Gundum refugee camp on Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017, in Bangladesh. Since late August, more than 620,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar's Rakhine state into neighboring Bangladesh, seeking safety from what the military described as "clearance operations." The United Nations and others have said the military's actions appeared to be a campaign of "ethnic cleansing," using acts of violence and intimidation and burning down homes to force the Rohingya to leave their communities. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

A day after Bangladesh and Myanmar announced a deal to repatriate Rohingya refugees back to the Rakhine state, aid agencies, rights groups and experts raised doubts about the implementation of the agreement.

According to the agreement signed in Naypyidaw, Bangladesh would start sending the Rohingya refugees back to Myanmar in two months. But no time frame is given on when the repatriation will be completed. At least 6,00,000 Rohingya fled Myanmar’s violence-hit Rakhine State to the neighbouring Bangladesh over the past three months.

Professor C.R. Abrar of the Dhaka University’s International Relations Department said one should be wary of the deal as Myanmar did not respect their earlier commitments on taking back Rohingya.

'Talk of return is premature'

Amnesty International’s director for refugee and migrant rights, Charmain Mohamed, said the UN and the international community “have been completely sidelined” and the talk of return is “premature” while the flow of Rohingya refugees to Bangladesh continues.

The UNCHR issued a statement on Friday, saying the repatriation should be in line with international standards and voluntary.