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REPATRIATION OF ROHINGYA REFUGEES

The Context
In 1978 and 1991 Bangladesh was faced with influx of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. In 1978
about 200,000 refugees crossed into Bangladesh to flee persecution by the Myanmarese army in the
Arakan region. Their stay in Bangladesh at that time was short lived as the problem was resolved
through diplomatic initiatives in sixteen months.
The situation is somewhat different this time when about a quarter of a million of refugees took shelter
in the Teknaf-Cox's Bazar region. Following the successful completion of the Cambodian operation the
Rohingya repatriation constitutes the single largest UNHCR operation in Asia. In spite of the
Bangladesh Government's agreement with the Myanmar authorities and UNHCR's Memorandum of
Understanding with both the governments on repatriation, initial steps in the repatriation has been
rather slow.
Currently the repatriation process has virtually stagnated. The presence of such a large number of
refugees, which at one stage appeared to be for an indefinite period, has created tensions in the host
communities and impacted adversely the economy and environment of the region. It is in this setting
that a study on the Rohingya refugees is being undertaken.