Myanmar has announced that 180,000 Rohingya refugees currently living in Bangladesh can return home. This news comes from the Bangladeshi government following talks in Bangkok between officials from both countries. The announcement offers a glimmer of hope in the long-stalled process of repatriating Rohingya, who fled Myanmar due to violence and persecution.
The Rohingya people have faced immense hardship since 2017, when a military crackdown forced over a million of them to seek refuge in Bangladesh. Many are now living in cramped conditions in what is considered the world’s largest refugee settlement. Last year alone, around 70,000 more Rohingya fled to Bangladesh, escaping worsening violence and hunger in Myanmar’s Rakhine State.
The discussions in Bangkok involved Khalilur Rahman, a representative of Bangladesh’s interim government, and Than Swe, Myanmar’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister. They met during the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, where the repatriation issue was a key topic. The 180,000 names announced for potential return are part of a larger list of 800,000 Rohingya submitted by Bangladesh to Myanmar between 2018 and 2020. Myanmar has also indicated that it is still reviewing another 70,000 names for verification.
Despite this progress, many Rohingya refugees remain skeptical. They express concerns that the offer is insufficient and that all refugees should be allowed to return, not just a select few. One refugee, Shafiqur Rahman, voiced frustration, stating that the confirmation of only 180,000 names feels like a mere gesture. He emphasized the need for full rights, dignity, and citizenship for those returning, highlighting the ongoing denial of these rights in Myanmar.
Previous attempts to repatriate Rohingya in 2018 and 2019 failed, as many refugees feared returning to a life of persecution. The situation remains delicate, with many still holding little hope for a safe and dignified return to their homeland. While Myanmar has pledged to expedite the verification process for the remaining Rohingya, the future for these refugees remains uncertain.