Nearly 3,500 Rohingya refugees have been identified to be repatriated back to Myanmar from Bangladesh but many of them have voiced concern over how the list was drawn up.
Out of approximately 740,000 Rohingya Muslims who fled to Bangladesh in 2017 after the military offensive in Myanmar hardly any have volunteered to return, fearing they will face violence and oppression once back in Myanmar.
The Rohingya are not listed as one of 135 Myanmar ethnic groups, despite having descendants in the country for generations.
Smoke and flames in Myanmar are seen from the Bangladeshi side of the border near Cox's Bazar's Teknaf area, Sunday, Sept 3, 2017. Source: AAP
Bangladesh has previously said it will not force Rohingya to return to Myanmar, where the Muslim minority faced several waves of persecution before the 2017 crackdown which saw widespread murder, rape and arson.
In a letter to the media, a group of Rohingya refugees state: "We are very concerned about how this secret list of names was created and why we are include (sic) on it. We never volunteer our names to go on the list."
"Right now the situation in Rakhine State is not safe for our return."
Bangladesh's Refugee Repatriation Commissioner, Abul Kalam, told SBS Bangla that 1,037 Rohingya families were already contacted and were informed that the Myanmar government had given their clearance. But reports say only 21 families were willing to be interviewed by officials.
"If they want to go back then Bangladesh is ready," Mr Kalam said.
"The date 22 (of August) is set for the repatriation of Rohingya and we have been working on the necessary preparation from our side. Most of the preparation has been taken already."
The Balukhali camp in Cox's Bazar Bangladesh. Source: NurPhoto
It's not the first time efforts have been made to return those who fled their homes in Myanmar.
The first initiative was taken last year with a date set for 15 November. However, all refused. This time many still have serious concerns.
Associate Professor Faridul Alam from the Department of International Relations at the University of Chittagong, Bangladesh told SBS Bangla there were many reasons, including the motives of some NGOs.
"Some aid groups who are working with them and the aid groups have some policies. If the Rohingyas are repatriated then those aid groups will face possible financial problems and the local people who are benefitting from this, they will face problems too."
According to Professor Alam, official and unofficial estimates put the number of Rohingya in Bangladesh at around 1.4 to 1.5 million and he says he's concerned at the small number of refugees being repatriated.
"I assume that this (repatriation) process has reached to its completion and 3,500 Rohingya are repatriated too. But this is not the end. When will start the new repatriation process, how many Rohingya will be repatriated, these are not clear yet. So personally I do not want to be optimistic at all," he said.
Professor Mohammad Zakir Hossein from the Department of Law from the University of Chittagong also has serious concerns.
"Myanmar is not serious to get the Rohingya back, he says.
"There is no sign that the area is ready from where the Rohingya people were expelled. No villages, no houses were built again to get them back there.
"Bangladesh had given the list of 50,000 (Rohingya for verification). They (Myanmar) showed interest for only 3,584. If It follows this pattern - around 7,000 from every 100,000, how many will you take from 1.2 million? 8,000? Or 9,000, 10,000? This is not a realistic procedure at all."
A group of Rohingya refugee children stand at a makeshift camp in Teknuf in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, 24 August 2018. Source: AAP
Identity and citizenship
Bangladesh's Refugee Repatriation Commissioner Abul Kalam says that whatever the total number for rehabilitation is, "we have to start from some point."
He compared the current initiative with the first one taken in November 2018.
"There was a lack of information last time. Most of the Rohingya may have not known the real situation over there (in Myanmar) and they were not sure about the stance of the government (of Myanmar). This time I hope that there will not be information lacking like that. That is why we hope that we may see a break-through this time.
"Their main problems are the issues of their identity and citizenship. They placed these as their basic problems. They want to go back to their own home. They do not want to go to any other camps from here," Mr Kalam told SBS Bangla.
Rohingya refugees pose for a photo with a list of their demands at the Nayapara refugee camp on August 21, 2019 in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. Source: Getty
'This is not a problem for Bangladesh'
Mr Kalam says it's not a problem for Bangladesh alone.
"This is obviously a regional problem and even it will become a global problem at any moment. For that reason, the international communities have responsibilities too. An acceptable and permanent solution is needed."
Former diplomat and government secretary A. K. M. Atikur Rahman says there's no need to build refugee camps in Myanmar for the Rohingya people - instead, he says, they should be given their own homes.
"The first and foremost thing is their safety. They should not be attacked, persecuted, suppressed and humiliated," Mr Rahman said.
Threat of extremism
Security and geopolitical analyst, retired Major General A K Mohammad Ali Sikder, blames some factions in the camps.
"There are activities in the Rohingya camps led by various interested groups. They are trying to convince the Rohingyas not to go back," Mr Sikder says.
“The Rohingya issue is very important for Bangladesh. Various interested groups around the Rohingya camps are involved for human trafficking, drug trafficking, contraband arms and weapons dealings.”
Moreover, he warns of the threat of extremism saying there are some religious fundamentalist or extremist groups who could entice Rohingya refugees by exploiting their vulnerability and poverty.
A seven-year-old Rohingya refugee child is given medical treatment after he was allegedly beaten by the Myanmar army, Coxs Bazaar, Bangladesh, Oct 2017. Source: AAP
It's a concern echoed by Professor Zakir Hossein.
“It is not too far that, within the Rohingya someday, there will emerge some extremist group namely RS or Rohingya State or IRS or Islamic Rohingya State similar to IS.
“It will not only be a fatal problem for Bangladesh only but also for South Asia, South-East Asia and in future for global peace.”
Bangladeshi High Commissioner to Australia, Sufiur Rahman, acknowledges the biggest problem is the issue of safety and security.
"If we cannot ensure their safety and security, then they will go back for a while and come back (to Bangladesh) again after a few days. There is a possibility of push-back. We do not want to do this again and again."
