Bangladesh, Myanmar meet on Rohingya repatriation

4th JWG talks today amid ‘zero progress’

Three Joint Working Group meetings between Bangladesh and Myanmar held so far have made no significant progress in Rohingya repatriation as Myanmar is yet to take any steps like amending its citizenship laws, according to experts. They say Bangladesh should make it clear that the delay in the repatriation process will cause trouble for Myanmar. The Myanmar government cannot go unpunished for committing ‘genocide’ in Rakhine state, they add.

The experts also say Bangladesh has to take strong steps in the JWG meeting today while dealing with Myanmar on the repatriation of the Rohingyas. After all, the Myanmar government has created the problem and must take initiatives to resolve the trouble, they point out.

They further say Bangladesh should make it clear that holding JWG meetings intermittently is just a waste of time for both countries unless Myanmar starts amendment of its citizenship laws and create a congenial environment for the return of the displaced persons. However, Myanmar is yet to take any positive step in this regard.

Myanmar cannot evade the responsibility for committing such heinous acts and must take immediate steps to take back their citizens as the lingering of

the process will not only affect both countries but also the entire region, the experts note.

They say since Myanmar agreed to take back its citizens at the first JWG meeting and subsequent meetings, it should start the process without further delay.

Amid such a situation, the fourth JWG meeting will be held at Naypyidaw, the capital of Myanmar, on May 3. The high-powered 16-member Bangladesh delegation will be led by secretary-bilateral (Asia and Pacific), while the Myanmar delegation will be led by U Myint Thu, permanent secretary, ministry of foreign affairs.

Foreign ministry sources have said Bangladesh will ask Myanmar about the progress of the repatriation of the displaced Rohingyas. Besides, Bangladesh will also ask Myanmar what steps it has taken to create a congenial environment for the return of the Rohingyas.

Bangladesh will put pressure on the Myanmar government to fulfil its commitment to start the process, the sources said.

Prof. Imtiaz Ahmed, a teacher at the international relations department of Dhaka University, told The Independent yesterday: “The AL-led government should say that Myanmar has to sign Rohingya repatriation deals with it.”

“While dealing with them, Bangladesh should talk from a

position of strength. There has been a consensus in the global

community, except one or two countries, that Myanmar has committed genocide and must pay for it. So, Bangladesh should make it clear that the delay in the repatriation will cause trouble for Myanmar,” he added.

“Myanmar inked a deal for the repatriation, but it has not amend its laws and created any congenial environment for the return of the Rohingyas. Myanmar has to make tangible steps for the repatriation. Otherwise, it’s only a waste of time for both countries by holding meetings every three to four months,” said Imtiaz Ahmed.

Meanwhile, the first Joint Working meeting on the repatriation of displaced Myanmar residents from Bangladesh was held on January 15, 2018 at Nay Pyi Taw. The second meeting was held in Dhaka in May 2018 and the third in Dhaka in October 2018. During the first meeting both sides signed a ‘physical agreement’ through which Myanmar agreed a timeframe for repatriation of hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas who fled Rakhine state due to military a crackdown in August 2017.

In the first three JWG meetings, foreign secretary Shahidul Haque was present, but he is not going to attend the fourth meeting as he will be busy with hectic campaign to be elected the deputy director general of the International Organisation for Migration.

As per the JWG first meeting agreement, the repatriation will be completed preferably within two years soon after beginning the process.  But the repatriation process is yet to begin due to the intervention of the international community.

 

Bangladesh, Myanmar meet on Rohingya repatriation

4th JWG talks today amid zero progress

Three Joint Working Group meetings between Bangladesh and Myanmar held so far have made no significant progress in Rohingya repatriation as Myanmar is yet to take any steps like amending its citizenship laws, according to experts. They say Bangladesh should make it clear that the delay in the repatriation process will cause trouble for Myanmar. The Myanmar government cannot go unpunished for committing genocide in Rakhine state, they add. The experts also say Bangladesh has to take strong steps in the JWG meeting today while dealing with Myanmar on the repatriation of the Rohingyas. After all, the Myanmar government has created the problem and must take initiatives to resolve the trouble, they point out. They further say Bangladesh should make it clear that holding JWG meetings intermittently is just a waste of time for both countries unless Myanmar starts amendment of its citizenship laws and create a congenial environment for the return of the displaced persons. However, Myanmar is yet to take any positive step in this regard. Myanmar cannot evade the responsibility for committing such heinous acts and must take immediate steps to take back their citizens as the lingering of the process will not only affect both countries but also the entire region, the experts note. They say since Myanmar agreed to take back its citizens at the first JWG meeting and subsequent meetings, it should start the process without further delay. Amid such a situation, the fourth JWG meeting will be held at Naypyidaw, the capital of Myanmar, on May 3. The high-powered 16-member Bangladesh delegation will be led by secretary-bilateral (Asia and Pacific), while the Myanmar delegation will be led by U Myint Thu, permanent secretary, ministry of foreign affairs. Foreign ministry sources have said Bangladesh will ask Myanmar about the progress of the repatriation of the displaced Rohingyas. Besides, Bangladesh will also ask Myanmar what steps it has taken to create a congenial environment for the return of the Rohingyas. Bangladesh will put pressure on the Myanmar government to fulfil its commitment to start the process, the sources said. Prof. Imtiaz Ahmed, a teacher at the international relations department of Dhaka University, told The Independent yesterday: The AL-led government should say that Myanmar has to sign Rohingya repatriation deals with it. While dealing with them, Bangladesh should talk from a position of strength. There has been a consensus in the global community, except one or two countries, that Myanmar has committed genocide and must pay for it. So, Bangladesh should make it clear that the delay in the repatriation will cause trouble for Myanmar, he added. Myanmar inked a deal for the repatriation, but it has not amend its laws and created any congenial environment for the return of the Rohingyas. Myanmar has to make tangible steps for the repatriation. Otherwise, its only a waste of time for both countries by holding meetings every three to four months, said Imtiaz Ahmed. Meanwhile, the first Joint Working meeting on the repatriation of displaced Myanmar residents from Bangladesh was held on January 15, 2018 at Nay Pyi Taw. The second meeting was held in Dhaka in May 2018 and the third in Dhaka in October 2018. During the first meeting both sides signed a physical agreement through which Myanmar agreed a timeframe for repatriation of hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas who fled Rakhine state due to military a crackdown in August 2017. In the first three JWG meetings, foreign secretary Shahidul Haque was present, but he is not going to attend the fourth meeting as he will be busy with hectic campaign to be elected the deputy director general of the International Organisation for Migration. As per the JWG first meeting agreement, the repatriation will be completed preferably within two years soon after beginning the process. But the repatriation process is yet to begin due to the intervention of the international community.