It Is Time To Integrate Them

Forced repatriation leads to a situation in tatters, Integration is the key solution that really matters.

Bangladesh witnessed 8th anniversary of Rohingya influx in the country. Around 11 million Rohingyas now reside in various camps across Southern part of Bangladesh. Promised repatriation did not take place as anticipated, rather Myanmar descended into a civil war,which is likely to wane after the election. Patience wears thin in cash-strapped Bangladesh. Aid is drying up. Learning centers are closing down in the camps.Some Rohingyas met horrifying death at sea while attempting to reach the affluent East-Asian countries. This year a boat capsize off the coast of Thailand killed 400 Rohingyas, a shocking number. What is more shocking an UNHCR official [attributed] the reason to aid cut.

I think aid cut has nothing to do with growing vulnerabilities of the Rohingyas.It is the uncertainties of their status,lack of right and opportunities that led them to meet this tragic end at the sea.

There is a growing cry to repatriate them to Myanmar,where other communities are not prepared to take them back. Myanmar is not a democratic country, where groups,people still settle dispute through guns. At the same time ,Bangladesh has to keep good relations with all the groups and stakeholders including Tatmadaw. It will take time for one group accepting other group and reintegration into the society.

Peaceful Myanmar, particularly the frontier state,is crucial to the development of Bangladesh. Bangladesh alone cannot stop the clash inside Myanmar. But we have to strive hard to make sure that conflict zone lies 1000 km away from our border so that our frontier villagers do not heard gunshot and development works go peacefully inside Bangladesh. In that light, balkanization of Myanmar does not serve our long term purpose.

Meanwhile, any forceful repatriation is neither good for the Rohingyas, nor for Bangladesh. We have to conduct a survey among the Rohingyas about their repatriation. Those want to stay back should be integrated into Bangladeshi society by giving them citizenship. We should negotiate for those who want to stay here. A safer place inside Myanmar, maybe a dedicated island or the Mandalay or Yangoon region,where they will not be attacked again. To reduce their vulnerabilities, we should offer economic opportunities for all irrespective of their position on repatriation. Current donor-funded NGO works inside the camps are not sustainable. Under the auspices of the UN, the security force may take charge of conducting relief works and other humanitarian activities. Former US army personnel, former Tatmadaw officers, former PLA soldiers may provide their assistance as educators,health workers, entrepreneurship development coach and other professions. I earlier argued about "Made By Rohingya" initiative to start business operated by the Rohingyas(See "Made By Rohingya",published on https://rezaulhoque.wordpress.com on March 09,2018, and "Chalk Out A Domestic Rohingya Policy", published here on January 19,2019). At the same time, free movement of the Rohingyas by large passenger-cum-cargo ships across the other countries of Malacca straits and the Middle East ,to a great extent,will reduce their isolation and vulnerabilities and thwart risky sea-crossing attempt. Apart from that, paramilitary forces may recruit 5000 Rohingyas and lift out 5000 families from poverty. And it will fill the void inside security forces where there is a dearth of Rohingya and [Rakhine] speaking people. Two dedicated TV channels in Rohingya and Rakhine language should be launched so that camp dwellers and Bangladeshis get info about camp life and what is going on inside Myanmar.

NGO activities should be restricted and replaced with local initiatives and income earning opportunities. Bangladesh can recruit foreign law firms, consultancy firms operated by former security personnel, police to cross check info about foreign nationals taking jobs here inside the camps or working in diplomatic mission. In Bangladesh , many of them are not seasoned professionals and often they are not reintegrated into their organization. Cox's Bazar and frontier districts are sensitive spots. And Bangladesh can ill afford wasting foreign taxpayers' money by allowing such individuals. In that light, this foreign aid cut is doing a great service [to] Bangladesh rather than a disservice. Humanitarian efforts should focus on [addressing] real issues on the ground , not to create wage employment for foreign nationals.

The civil war in Sri Lanka pushed many Tamils into India. At least 1 million preferred to stay back and did not return.Things are not that bad in Rakhine state. But we have to give time so that one community accepts the other. Bangladesh has to maintain good relations with all the groups, stakeholders of Myanmar. Any balkanization of the region is detrimental to our interests. Since repatriation will take time, we may integrate part of the Rohingyas into Bangladesh, [provide] economic opportunities to all of them,[arrange] maritime access to other countries through some accord, [ensure] more engagement of foreign Army veterans of key regional powers in providing humanitarian assistance, [ensure] less dependence on NGOs and [launch] made-by-Rohingya initiative [that] will reduce the vulnerabilities of the Rohingyas to a great extent.

La Semaine Dernière A Mes Yeux

(24 décembre --- 30 décembre)

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Ma Semaine Gastronomique

Date	Petit déjeuner	Déjeuner	Dîner	Snacks,Sucreries,Boissons et Fritures
24	Pain tchapati,Chou	Riz,Purée d'haricot,Soupe aux lentilles	Riz,Purée de pomme de terre,Soupe aux lentilles	Fritures (Chou-fleur, Aubergine)
25	Pain tchapati,Omelette	Riz,Purée de pomme de terre,Chou	Pain tchapati(fait par moi),Purée de pomme de terre,Chou	Dattes
26	Pain tchapati,Chou,Dattes,Œuf dur	Riz,Purée d'haricot,Soupe aux haricots vigna mungo,Poisson pama croaker	Pain tchapati(fait par moi),Soupe aux haricots vigna mungo,Chou-fleur	Dattes
27	Pain tchapati,Omelette,Dattes	Riz,Purée de pomme de terre et haricot,Pama Croaker,Soupe aux lentilles	Pain tchapati(fait par moi),Soupe aux lentilles	Dattes,Œuf dur
28	Pain tchapati,Omelette,Dattes	Riz,Purée de tomate,Purée de sésame,Pomme de terre,Chou	Pain tchapati(fait par moi),Chou-fleur, Courge amère, Bombili	Dattes
29	Pain tchapati,Œuf dur,Tomate,Dattes,Chou	Riz,Courge amère, Tomate,Bombili,Soupe aux lentilles	Pain tchapati(fait par moi),Soupe aux lentilles	---
30	Pain tchapati(fait par moi),Omelette,Tomate	Riz,Purée de pomme de terre et haricot,Pama croaker,Pois chiches et pomme de terre	Riz,Purée de pomme de terre et haricot,Pama croaker,Pois chiches et pomme de terre	Dattes

La Semaine Dernière A Mes Yeux

(20 mai --- 27 mai)

Selon un reportage, une cour indienne a condamné 7 Bangladais à la prison perpétuelle pour avoir violé une Bangladaise en 2021.

Selon un reportage, le gouvernement a renouvelé la politique de versement depuis l’étranger. À partir de maintenant, les Bangladais peuvent envoyer remittances au Bangladesh en ne pas soumettant les papiers.

Selon un reportage, chef de l'haut-commissariat pour les réfugiés a peur que la guerre en Ukraine fasse une quête pour les Rohingyas très très difficile.

Ma Semaine Gastronomique

Date	Petit-déjeuner	Déjeuner	Dîner	Snacks,Sucrerie et Fritures
24			riz gonflé et pommes de terre avec oignon et poivre
25	Eau de citron et Psyllium Husk,pain et gourde serpent avec thé sans sucre	Riz,purée de pommes de terre,Ruhi poisson curry,tête de poisson dans soupe de Mung,banane curry	Pain et tête de poisson dans soupe de Mung	Riz battu au lait avec datte,thé sans sucre,Jamrul/Champoo
26	Eau de citron et Psyllium Husk,pain et tête de poisson dans soupe de Mung avec thé sans sucre	Riz,Puis Shak(un type d’épinards avec noix de Jackfruit et pommes de terre),Rui poisson,soupe de lentilles	Pain plat et soupe de lentilles	Riz battu au thé avec datte,thé sans sucre,riz gonflé avec pois chiches,chanachur,oignon et poivre
27	Eau de citron ,pain et omelette avec thé sans sucre	Riz,Data Shak(un type d’épinards ),Courge amère,Pama croaker poisson,soupe de lentilles	Riz gonflé, Pois chiches,Béguny,AlooPuri	Riz battu au lait chaud avec datte,thé sans sucre,Muraly(un bonbon de pois de chiches plongé dans la mélasse),Biscuit

Eroding Trust,Diminishing Sympathy

From Thai jungles to the Mediterranean sea,
Govt plays deaf to fortune seekers plea.
As inaction causes trouble on foreign shore,
Sympathy for the country is no more.

According to a news report European Union is going to introduce harshest visa policy temporarily for Bangladesh as it failed to deal with illegal Bangladeshis stranded across European countries.Back in 2017,Bangladesh signed an agreement with EU to bring back the illegal Bangladeshi emigrants. As the country failed to live up to its pledges, EU is considering to make harder obtaining the Schengen visa,curbing multiple visa facility, prolong the procedure of getting visa and impose tariff on visas for Bangladeshi diplomats.¹

In the past I wrote a number of pieces---”Need For A William “,”Governance Crisis: From Local Alleys To Foreign Shores”,”Perilous Plight Of Modern Day Vikings”,”A Loosing Scheme”---on human trafficking from Bangladesh and conditions of trapped Bangladeshis abroad. I share some of the nuggets of old pieces here.

In recent years, Bangladeshis topped the list of boat-riding asylum seekers. According to European Union, 93435 Bangladeshis are staying illegally in European countries. Bangladesh strongly contested the figure. According to Ministry of Interior, Italy, 8131 Bangladeshis entered illegally in 2016 and in the first six months of 2017, 8436 Bangladeshis were identified as illegal emigrant^{2 & 3}.

A survey by IOM reveals that on average illegal Bangladeshis paid more than $5,000 to human traffickers to reach Italy taking a perilous boat ride. Dubai-Istanbul-Tripoli turned out to be their preferred route to reach Libya.Traffickers locked them in Libya for one year and forced them to work in homes and restaurants.³

More recently, Tunisian coast guard rescued 443 Bangladeshis from the Mediterranean sea between May 18 and June 10 of this year⁴.

Back in 2018,in USA, Texas news papers were carrying reports how everyday Texas border patrol nabbed illegal Bangladeshis while crossing the Rio Grande river. Casting serious doubts over Bangladesh’s trumpeting of its economic achievements.⁵

Recent addition to human trafficking incident was a Bangladeshi MP who was sentenced to 4 years of imprisonment by a Kuwaiti court for human trafficking and money laundering. Not only that many high ranking Kuwaiti officials were also found guilty in such incidents. This insinuates how far and wide such trafficking racket is stretched⁶.

But such mass human trafficking through sea all started in 2014. UNHCR in a report revealed that 25000 Bangladeshis embarked on illegal and risky boat ride to reach Malaysia in the first quarter of 2015. And 5400 illegal fortune seekers were detained in various prisons of the countries bin Asia and Pacific region⁷.

Discovery of mass graves of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis in Thai-Malaysian jungles and sentence of a Thai General did little to beef-up Bangladeshi efforts to curb the incidence of trafficking.

Sending people abroad is a lucrative trade and government recognizes the industry as “man power business”. There is even a ministry to look after the well beings of the expatriates .

Since it is an industry, all sorts of practices, fair and unfair, are going on here no holds barred. People are so desperate to go to their dream destinations , they are even ready to pay more than the required cost. They are poised to work under harsh conditions and to embrace any situation to make their fortune abroad.

A parasitic class was born out of their desire and desperation. This class exploits the vulnerabilities of would-be foreign workers and share the rents with the corrupt politicians and officials.

Inhumane sufferings of the migrant workers are often ignored as long as remittances are kept coming. Unlike the workers from other countries, the Bangladeshi workers do not find their govt on their sides when they are in trouble in foreign soils.

When a govt evades its responsibility about its own citizens, other countries are less interested to take their responsibility, particularly when the country is not paralyzed by problems.

Govt of Bangladesh is guilty of two counts: first, it allows a modern day slave trade in its soil ; second, it disowns its own citizens when they are in distress³.

As tragedy after tragedy strikes on foreign shore,govt, being guardian and protector of the have-nots, has failed to stop human trafficking.Turning a blind eye to such crime only unfolds bigger catastrophe. Other responsible govts will not sit idle when sheer size of the problem causes unease at their countries. Bilateral relations may survive the twists and turns but sympathy towards Bangladesh may diminish. Suggestion for tougher EU visa policy for Bangladeshis is an indication to that direction.

Notes And References:

1 “Bangladeshider Visae Korakorir Suparish(Harsher Visa Restrictions Suggested On Bangladesh) “,Raheed Ejaj,Daily Prothom Alo,August 27,2021.

2 “Bangladesh Under Threat On EU Visa Restrictions “,Dhaka Tribune,June 25,2017.Link here

3 “Need For A William “,Rezaul Hoque,https://rezaulhoque.wordpress.com,July 31,2021Link here

4 “La Semaine Dernière A Mes Yeux(11 juin --- 18 juin)”,Rezaul Hoque,https://hoquestake.blogspot.com/

5 “Governance Crisis: From Local Alleys To Foreign Shores”,Rezaul Hoque,https://rezaulhoque.wordpress.com,January 16,2019,Link here

6 “Kuwait: Bangladeshi MP Gets 4 Years In Jail,Fined KD1.9 M For Human Trafficking”,Ramadan Al Sherbini,Gulf News, January 19,2021.Link here

7 “Cries In The Wood”,Rezaul Hoque,https://rezaulhoque.wordpnress.com/,May 14,2015.Link here

Don't Ignore Refugees' Rights

The coming years are going to see lots of refugees around the world. Many of them will be displaced due to political tension or climatic conditions. Bangladesh's mega cities have long been hosting villagers fleeing horrors of river erosion. Recently, the country welcomed nearly million refugees from persecution in the Rakhine State in Myanmar.

In addition, huge number of Bangladeshis work in Middle East and South East Asia. Any kind of geo political tension in these countries could lead to massive evacuation program like that happened during the gulf war or second world war. The prospect of a refugee like situation is pretty high for Bangladesh.

Across the border, tension is rising among different communities.  There is a mild chance that we may host some political refugees from India. But for the next few years, it is highly unlikely that this may happen. It all depends on how the Indian government is going to implement the the National Register Citizens and to deal with the aftermath.

In dealing with the Rohingyas, Bangladesh already met some harsh truths: pledged promises of aid never translated into actions, economic opportunities or alternative livelihood for the Rohingyas have never been devised, market access to some developed countries for Bangladeshi goods as a gesture of acknowledgement to host stateless people has yet to take place and no policies have been devised to spell out how the refugees' rights over resources( what they earn through their participation in economic activity)  will be ensured and their free movement will be respected.

No one accepts willingly a refugee life in a foreign land. At the same time, economic opportunities and freedom to move without obstacles are extremely difficult for a refugee in a foreign country. Often, the condition facing a refugee turns worse if the hosting country becomes hostile or the population hold animus towards the refugee. Furthermore, there are lack of international efforts and agreements that ensure refugees' rights of their earned earnings and resources. From day one, a refugee becomes a subject of intense exploitation.

In the surrounding villages of Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar, many Rohingyas forced to sell their labor at a wage rate far below than the market in face of grinding poverty.I had the experience to travel on a rickshaw  in Cox's Bazar back in 2010  or 2011 at a fare much lower than the market could offer. Later I figured out the rickshaw puller was a Rohingya.

The movie "Gangs of New York" offers another vivid account of the impact of refugees could play in the society and labor market. In the movie, the Irish immigrants greatly shape informal labor market. Many are conscripted in the US army and sent directly to the battlefields, unknown and treacherous ,to embrace cruel death. Their dues are never paid. Some of these poor migrants fall into the lure of notorious gangs.

In Thailand, another group of Myanmar refugees have taken up hazardous jobs to sustain families. They extract copper from dumped electronic gadgets and laptops in awful working environment. Many burn their hands while doing so, as reported by the New York Times.

In the neighboring state of West Bengal, a small mangrove forest island once became a tension point between refugees of Bangladesh and state government. Poor refugees came in droves and started living in the forest despite repeated warnings from the government. Later police and ruling party cadres cleared the island launching a brutal crackdown. The killings in Marichjhanpi island still rankles with the refugees living in West Bengal.

To insulate the refugees from exploitation and to safeguard their interests, multilateral bodies should step forward. For instance, many nations can welcome a particular group of refugees. But due to statelessness , they cannot go/travel  to those countries. UN can make special arrangements / travel documents that allow a refugee to move freely within a country and between friendly countries.

More precisely, a family may be separated by a tragic event and may become refugee. Sole bread winner may reside in a richer country but the rest of the family members may remain stranded in refugee camps of a poor country. In this case, UN may issue special travel documents to help the family reunites without violating laws and regularities of the hosting countries.Furthermore, migrant member of a refugee family may need to remit money back to the host country where his/her family members live. Due to the status of refugee, they cannot engage in legal financial transaction. Often the host country allows the refugees to engage in economic activities like farming, pisciculture, small business etc. Again due to their status, they cannot do banking legally in the country. UN can launch initiative through UNHCR so that refugees can open bank account using their refugee identity, can do financial transactions legally and can protect their resources.

Just to provide shelter is not enough for the refugees. As they are subject to exploitation and vulnerabilities stemming from the situation exists in the ground of hosting countries.Multilateral bodies  need to take initiatives to find ways for economic opportunities for the refugees, instead of relying heavily on aid, and to make sure they move freely between countries that are amicable towards them.

To market the goods and produces of refugees, some solution should be devised. Like duty free shops at airports, we can introduce duty-free  market place for refugee made goods in major cities. They can be given credit, subsidized seeds, fertilizer, land and pond . Special haat could also be arranged for their produces in week days and weekend. This can all happen under the good care of UNHCR.

Many countries are tremendously friendly towards the Rohingyas. These countries can fix a quota of RMG items , wear by defense personnel. Bangladeshi government in turn can redistribute quotas to Bangladeshi RMG manufacturers who will help prepare Rohingya entrepreneurs or offer jobs to Rohingyas in their factories. Their earnings could go directly to the bank accounts operated by UNHCR. This initiative, if work, will create a new breed of  Rohingya entrepreneurs whose ventures will lift the community up from dire poverty.

Meanwhile, Myanmar government can give Rohingya originated traders some special permits to do trade of kitchen commodities in the country. This will open up another alley of opportunities for the Rohingyas. Uninhabited islands of Myanmar could also be leased to Rohingyas so that they could grow their own food, do farming and sell their produces to outside world. This will partly assuage their economic and financial woes. If Rohingyas are reluctant, then able Bangladeshi farms can be invited to lease those agricultural plots inside Myanmar.

Last two initiatives are bilateral in nature, depending much on how other friendly countries appreciate the ideas. Multilateral agreements like banking operation and travel documents for refugees can effectively materialize them. Since pledges of aid recede as time progresses, it is not a good idea to rest solely on aid to solve refugee problem. Mainstreaming the contribution of refugees towards the economy could be good alternative.