Bangladesh has rejected a proposal by the World Bank to integrate Rohingya Muslims into the country, which is already hosting over 1.2 million of the displaced people.
The country fears that such a policy would directly affect the main focus –– repatriation.
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said on Monday the World Bank has prepared a long-term programme for 16 countries that are hosting refugees for their integration, welfare, equal employment and better communication between refugee and host communities.
“But we are not included in the definition of what the World Bank has meant. Rohingya are not refugees in our definition. Rather, they are persecuted and displaced people whom we extended temporary shelter here [in Bangladesh],” he said.
“Our priority issue is they should go back to their own land [in Myanmar],” he told reporters in the capital, Dhaka.
Bangladesh came to know about the World Bank report recently. The report was on integrating refugees into their host countries from the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
Momen said the report “suggests extending Rohingya the right to own land, property, businesses, rights of election and mobility and equal rights in employment as exercised by Bangladeshi citizens as part of the integration process, and if we agree with the proposal, then it will provide financial support to this effect out of a $2 billion World Bank fund.”
“We strongly oppose and completely reject the World Bank report, as it contradicts our philosophy on Rohingya. We believe the only way out for the welfare of the Rohingya lies in repatriation,” he said.
Bangladesh will revise the proposal and scrap those provisions, as it contradicts its policy, the top diplomat said, adding there will be some adjustments to the World Bank’s proposal and a memorandum of understanding will be signed if the bank agrees with the revised proposal.
He urged the World Bank and UN agencies to instead work on implementing the repatriation of Rohingya to Myanmar. Momen said that UN agencies, international non-governmental organisations and some other governments are adopting long-term programmes on Rohingya that could further delay the main focus of repatriation.