Rohingya repatriation only solution, not integration: Momen

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Monday reiterated the government position against any long-term programme by the World Bank for the integration of Rohingya into Bangladesh but indicated some adjustments on the proposal.

He said there might be some adjustments with the World Bank proposal with Bangladesh giving its priority to repatriation of the Rohingya.

“We’ve dropped all ideas (from WB proposal) that don’t match with our own philosophy that’s repatriation,” Momen told reporters, adding that there will be an MoU if the WB agrees with the Bangladesh proposal.

The foreign minister said the WB has taken a long-term programme for 16 countries which are hosting refugees and they will provide money from a Tk 2000-crore fund.

“Rohingya are not refugees here. They’re persecuted and displaced people …they’re taking shelter here on a temporary basis,” Momen said.

Earlier, the foreign minister told the UNB that the government has taken a very strong stance against the idea floated by the World Bank that apparently suggests integration of Rohingya into Bangladesh giving them all the rights like Bangladesh citizens.

“We took a very strong stance. We didn’t like it and we opposed it strongly. We conveyed it,” said Momen.

The World Bank came up with a programme as part of its Refugee Policy Review Framework globally for refugee host countries through the Economic Relations Division (ERD).

The foreign minister said integration of Rohingya in Bangladesh is not the solution but they will have a better future only when they are repatriated. “They should go back. That’s the only way-out.”

Momen said they might face some kind of pressure from the WB in terms of getting other loans but will remain stick to its position giving Rohingya repatriation a priority.

He indicated that the UNHCR may also refer to it as a condition to go to Bhasan Char for resuming their operational activities.

The foreign minister said the WB is saying effective steps should be taken to identify, prevent and mitigate social tensions and risk of violence between the displaced people and host community, building good relations with them and to employ them in local works.

He said they (WB officials) are saying the Rohingya should have the right to work and free mobility; and birth, marriage, divorce and death certificates should be issued for the Rohingya like Bangladesh citizens. “Naturally, we don’t accept those ideas. They (WB) are willing to give money for these if we integrate them.”

As per the WB ideas shared with the ERD, the Rohingya should have access to the local labour market, including business opportunities the same way Bangladesh nationals have with the same payment facilities.

On education for the Rohingya, there is a proposal to provide education in Bangla language so that they can be absorbed in the local market. However, Bangladesh wants education for the Rohingya in Myanmar language.

“Their (WB) programme is fully related to reintegration of these people with the host country. Naturally, we don’t want it,” Momen said.

Bangladesh does not want anything that might lead to a possibility of Rohingya’ presence in Bangladesh for a longer period with an opportunity to live with locals in a more integrated way having freedom of mobility.

Bangladesh is hosting over 11 lakh Rohingya in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char.