Webinar on Rohingya Crisis Repatriation the only solution

Saying that repatriation is the only solution to the Rohingya crisis, academicians in a webinar yesterday urged the international community to mount pressure on Myanmar so that it takes back its nationals stuck in Bangladesh.

They also accused the international community of having a double standard regarding the Rohingya issue.

The academicians were from different fields of studies, including international relations, geography, disaster management, social sciences, environmental sciences, and peace and conflicts.

Department of Disaster Science and Management, University of Dhaka, and Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction, University College London (UCL), jointly organised the webinar, titled "Rohingyas in Bangladesh: Socio-Political and Environmental Perspectives".

Presenting a paper at the programme, Prof Imtiaz Ahmed, of DU's international relations, asked if the international community could impose sanctions on Iran and North Korea, then why Myanmar would not be slapped with such sanctions.

"It is a double standard policy. It is not good for the international community. If you maintain a double role in the global world, people will not take you [the international community] seriously," he said.

Prof Imtiaz said the Rohingya diaspora should be engaged in the repatriation process and suggested that the diaspora choose several leaders, instead of one, to avoid being a "target".

"The Rohingya leadership should be a civil entity of a diverse group. There are windows of opportunities for the international community to put pressure on the Myanmar authorities to resolve the Rohingya crisis. And there is no other option than repatriation to resolve the crisis."

Prof ASM Maksud Kamal, of department of disaster science and management and also pro-vice chancellor (Academic) of Dhaka University, said following the Rohingya influx deforestation occurred that causes flash flood, land erosion and regular fire incidents in the camp areas.

Due to hill cutting, deforestation and unplanned settlements in the camps, the camp area lost around 70 percent protected vegetation after 2017, Prof Kamal said.

He also said in 20 years, around 10 percent camp area would be susceptible to experiencing landslides.

He said the sooner the Rohingys are repatriated the better for both Bangladesh and Myanmar.

Prof Kazi Matin Ahmed, of department of geology at Dhaka University, said groundwater is a vital resource for sustaining livelihood of the host communities as well as providing humanitarian services to the displaced Rohingyas.

There are potential risks to groundwater resources in Ukhia-Teknaf area associated with the Rohingya influx. The resources need to be protected from undesired impacts by undertaking appropriate management plans, he said.

DU Prof Md Rafiqul Islam said mistrust and grievances of the local community over the Rohingya issue were increasing day by day.

"To resolve the crisis, there is no option other than repatriation of all Rohingya people to Myanmar."

Zillur Rahman, professor of department of disaster science and management, talked about the Bhasan Char where the government is targeting to relocate one lakh Rohingyas from the Cox's Bazar camps.

The island is tectonically stable, he said, adding that from 2014 to 2020, the island was enlarged and approached to a rounded shape that seems more stable than the previous years.

"The accredited land is higher than the eroded land indicating the island is becoming more stable," Prof Zillur said.

Prof Sadeka Halim, dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Dhaka University, posed a question: Is Bhasan Char really the answer to the Rohingya problem?

"Bhasan Char is not the answer. We need to repatriate them [the Rohingyas]. We need to have a lot of dialogues with our counterparts in the Myanmar, including civil society, academicians and Rohingya diasporas, to mount pressure on the Myanmar government for the repatriation."

Taking part in the webinar as the chief guest, State Minister for the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief Md Enamur Rahman said repatriation was the only measure required to protect both the host and the Rohingya communities.