In a renewed diplomatic push to resolve one of the most protracted humanitarian crises of the modern era, Bangladesh has once again issued an urgent appeal to Myanmar for the immediate commencement of the Rohingya repatriation process. During the fifth session of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on the repatriation of displaced persons from Rakhine State, Dhaka emphasised that the persistent delay is placing a “colossal burden” on its resources and infrastructure.
The meeting, conducted virtually, served as a platform for substantive dialogue between the two nations. Leading the delegations were Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary, Masud Bin Momen, and Myanmar’s Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, U Chan Aye. The discussions centred on the essential pillars of a successful return: the process must be voluntary, safe, dignified, and, most crucially, sustainable.
Bangladesh’s representatives stressed the necessity of an expedited verification process to determine eligibility for return. Beyond mere logistics, Dhaka urged Myanmar to provide concrete guarantees regarding the security, well-being, and future livelihoods of those returning to their homeland. Without such assurances, the profound “trust deficit” that has plagued previous attempts remains an insurmountable barrier.
The historical context of this crisis is staggering. Since the brutal military crackdown on 25 August 2017—an event the United Nations famously described as a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing”—Bangladesh has provided temporary sanctuary to over 1.2 million forcefully displaced Rohingyas in the Cox’s Bazar district. Despite the formation of the JWG in December 2017 and its inaugural meeting in Naypyidaw in January 2018, the repatriation numbers remain at zero.
| Feature of the Rohingya Crisis | Statistical and Historical Data |
| Total Displaced Persons | In excess of 1.2 million |
| Primary Host Region | Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh |
| Crisis Commencement | 25 August 2017 |
| JWG Established | 19 December 2017 |
| International Classification | Ethnic Cleansing / Genocide |
| Repatriation Success Rate | 0% (Over five years) |
| Failed Formal Attempts | Two (due to safety concerns) |
The latest JWG meeting concluded with a mutual agreement to address existing verification hurdles. Both sides committed to maintaining a regular schedule for both the JWG and the Technical Working Group (TWG). For Bangladesh, these meetings are not merely bureaucratic formalities but vital steps toward alleviating a humanitarian strain that has lasted nearly five years. As the international community watches, the focus remains firmly on whether Myanmar will translate these diplomatic engagements into tangible action on the ground.