Myanmar Confirms Eligibility of 180,000 Rohingya for Return Amid Deepening Fears Over Safety and Justice

By: Hafizur Rahman, Camp Correspondent

Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh-In a recent high-level meeting on the sidelines of the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok, Myanmar authorities officially confirmed that 180,000 Rohingya refugees sheltering in Bangladesh are eligible for repatriation.

The announcement marks a notable moment in the protracted refugee crisis but has also triggered renewed concern and criticism among Rohingya leaders and activists, who argue that core issues remain unresolved.

Myanmar Confirms 180,000 for Return

U Than Shew, Myanmar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, conveyed the repatriation readiness to Dr. Khalilur Rahman, High Representative of the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh. The names belong to a list submitted by Bangladesh in six separate batches between 2018 and 2020, containing details of approximately 800,000 Rohingyas.

While the announcement is framed as progress, many Rohingya fear that this move lacks the necessary political will, security guarantees, and citizenship restoration mechanisms that must accompany any return.

Rohingya Voices: Repatriation Without Rights is Not a Solution

King Maung, Executive Director of the Rohingya Youth Association (RYA), welcomed the update but emphasized that mere numbers are not the priority.

“We are not asking how many will return; we are asking how they will return. If we are sent back without land, rights, or recognition, it’s not repatriation—it’s re-persecution,” he said. “We want justice, security, and our place in Arakan.”

Ro Habib Arakani, another prominent Rohingya human rights activist, expressed strong skepticism about the process:

“More than a million Rohingya deserve to return. But how can repatriation happen when 95% of Arakan is controlled by the Arakan Army (AA)—an armed group with a documented record of hostility toward Rohingya? The military left not out of peace, but because they lost control in the war. Now, the same military claims they’ll protect us?”

He further questioned whether returnees would be handed over to AA-controlled areas, where reports of forced labor, land seizures, and intimidation against Rohingya continue to surface.

Key Questions from the Rohingya Community

Syedul Mostafa, a Rohingya youth leader and camp-based advocate, raised a set of urgent questions that he believes must be addressed before any repatriation moves forward:

1. Why only 180,000?
   – Why did Bangladesh agree to initiate repatriation with this number when Myanmar has not even verified the remaining 70,000 from the same submitted list?
2. Why a trial repatriation approach?
   – Does this reflect Myanmar’s lack of genuine political will or an attempt to delay full-scale return?
3. What is the verification process?
   – Will it involve the National Verification Card (NVC)—a mechanism rejected by the Rohingya for stripping identity?
4. Who will ensure safety?
   – With AA controlling the region, what real safety guarantees exist for returnees?
5. What status will returnees have?
   – Will they be restored as citizens, or offered temporary, discriminatory status?
6. Whose mandate is being followed?
   – Why is the Bangladesh interim government pursuing decisions made by the previous administration despite Rohingya rejection?
7. Why have previous repatriation attempts failed?
   – Past efforts in 2018 and 2019 collapsed due to lack of trust and conditions. What has changed now?

Ground Reality in Northern Maungdaw: Fear Still Reigns

While repatriation discussions are underway, on the ground in northern Maungdaw, Rohingya communities are under growing threat. Local Rakhine civilians, reportedly backed by the Arakan Army, are patrolling Rohingya villages armed with sticks and knives, accusing Rohingya of hiding missing people.

One resident from Pwint Phyu Chaung, Rahim Ullah, shared:

“We are living every second in fear. They shout threats and say they will kill us. Our children are crying. We don’t know what will happen next.”

The Arakan Army/ULA has not intervened to stop the harassment. Instead, they have reportedly ordered residents of U Kyet Kya village to evacuate by April 5.

Moreover, sources report that Rohingya farmlands, ponds, and homes have been confiscated by the Arakan Army and redistributed to Rakhine settlers, deepening displacement even within Arakan.

Rohingya Call for Justice and Dignity

Rohingya religious scholar Abubukkor Siddik stated:

“We have lost everything—our homes, our families, our dignity. If we are to return, it must be with safety, justice, and land. Without these, repatriation will only open a new chapter of suffering.”

A refugee working as a daily laborer added:

“Living in fear every day is not living. We want to return, but we want peace and protection. Promises must be backed by real action.”

Conclusion: An Uncertain Road Ahead

While Myanmar’s confirmation of repatriation eligibility for 180,000 Rohingya appears promising on paper, the real concerns remain unaddressed. Without a transparent framework, citizenship guarantee, land restitution, and security from armed groups, repatriation risks becoming a public relations exercise rather than a just resolution.

The Rohingya demand more than a symbolic return—they demand a future with dignity, safety, and identity. Until then, the road to home remains paved with uncertainty.