Nepal and Bangladesh can work together on the repatriation of the Rohingya refugees. Nepal can play role in resolving the Rohingya crisis as a regional country because the Rohingya refugee crisis is a regional problem for both South Asia and Southeast Asia.
Nepal and Bangladesh are two of South Asia’s closest friends and peace-loving neighbors, their ties made closer by recent high-level state visits. The President of Bangladesh, Abdul Hamid visited Nepal in 2019. Nepal’s President Bidya Devi Bhandari visited Bangladesh in 2021 as a guest on the birth centenary Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. So, they can work together in resolving common regional challenges.
For decades, Myanmar has subjugated extreme cruelty on the Rohingya. The Rohingya problem is not new to Bangladesh. This problem, which started in 1978, became apparent in August 2017. More than 1 million Rohingya fled to Bangladesh to save their lives when the Myanmar army launched a brutal operation against them. Bangladesh is seeking the intervention of the United States, the European Union and the United Nations as well as the regional alliance, ASEAN for a lasting and acceptable solution to the Rohingya problem.
According to data of Nepalese media outlets, there are approximately 300 Rohingya living in Kathmandu, specifically in the Kapan area and reports state that around 600 more are scattered all over Nepal. However, the exact number of these asylum seekers is not known. The Rohingya entered Nepal in the 1990s and mainly in 2012.
According to Nepal Police, “some Stateless Rohingyas have been found entering Nepal via Kakarbhitta border in eastern Nepal for the past few days.” The incident came to light after 14 Rohingya refugees, including some children, were found to have entered Nepal and got apprehended when they arrived in Kathmandu on September 12, 2021. According to the Metropolitan Police Circle Bouddha, they entered Nepal from the Rohingya refugee camp of Bangladesh via India through Kakarbhitta. After entering Nepal, they arrived at the Rohingya refugee camp, Baluwakhani in Kapan of Kathmandu.
Bangladesh is facing serious problems due to this artificial crisis committed by Myanmar. Some socio-economic threats are rising in Bangladesh. Bangladesh has given shelter to Rohingya for humanitarian reasons. But because of this humanity, the country is now at risk. As a result, there is a danger of Rohingya spreading all over the country, which brings with it many challenges.
The forest is being uprooted as they are cutting down the mountains and destroying them. There are also long-term economic risks. Socio-economic and political problems may also be evident and security risks may increase. Illegal narcotics trade, human trafficking, prostitution and terrorism in the Rohingya camps are increasing.
Therefore, the Rohingya problem is not just the problem for Bangladesh but also for Nepal. Nepal should understand this. It’s times for both Bangladesh and Nepal to work together to repatriate the Rohingya to Rakhine in Myanmar.
Bangladesh and Myanmar signed an agreement to repatriate the Rohingya to Myanmar within two years in 2017 and 2019 respectively. The Myanmar authorities did not take back the Rohingya according to the agreement. Bangladesh raised the issue in every international forums where it received support from many countries. But Myanmar has not respected international law and norms. Some mighty powers may have been behind the scene.
The Bangladesh Prime Minister has raised the issue at UNGA on September 25, 2021 to draw the attention in solving the Rohingya crisis. She has focused specially on the engagement of ASEAN leaders, as ASEAN can solve this problem easily.
As a South Asian country and well trusted ally of Bangladesh, Nepal can help Bangladesh to resolve this issue. For example, Nepal can be a mediator in this regard as it has very warm relations with both Myanmar and Bangladesh.
Various countries and international organizations have taken various measures to resolve the Rohingya problem. Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has criticized the Myanmar authorities for being lax in repatriating displaced Rohingya. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has expressed deep concern over the ongoing Rohingya crisis. Yang Lee, the UN special envoy for human rights in Myanmar, said all major countries in the world had a responsibility to resolve the Rohingya crisis.
Nepal can and should play very significant role to resolve the crisis in the following ways:
- Nepal can support Bangladesh at every international forum such as at UNGA and regional conferences. It can vote in favor of Bangladesh. It can raise the issue in BIMSTEC and SAARC platforms.
- Nepal can negotiate with Myanmar diplomatically and bilaterally. It has good bilateral relations with Myanmar.
- Nepal can engage with others regional states to solve the crisis.
- Nepal’s Buddhist society can play an effective role in this regard. The relations of Buddhists between Myanmar and Nepal are well established. Nepalese Buddhists can do it very easily. Buddhism is more related to the establishment of peace and non-violence. Sri Lankan Buddhists can play a significant role in this regard also. They can exercise the path shown by the founder of Buddhism, Gautama Buddha. Buddhists will be recognized as the Avatar of human rights if the Buddhist community plays to role in solving the Rohingya crisis. It will ensure the regional to some extent World peace and communal harmony. Nepal’s Lumbini is the birth place of Gautama Buddha. It is a holy place for all Buddhists around the world. Myanmar Buddhists and government may have also respect for Nepal for this holy place. Nepal can use this opportunity. Nepalese Buddhists, people and government should make the Burmese Buddhists understand this connection. Then, the people of Myanmar can be motivated to pressurize the Myanmar government to repatriate the Rohingya to their land. Bangladesh is also contributing to establishing a Buddhist monastery in Nepal. Can anyone imagine a Muslim country building a Buddhist monastery in Nepal, a religiously Hindu country? All Buddhists around the world, especially Burmese and Nepalese Buddhists, should realize this with special attention.
- Nepalese businessmen can engage themselves to some extent because stability in the region is necessary for promoting investment and trade.
Why should Nepal paly role to resolve the problem?
- This issue is a humanitarian issue. The Rohingya are from Rakhine in Myanmar, where they have birth rights.
- It is an issue of justice. According to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” The Myanmar authorities have committed genocide and the perpetrators should be under international legal jurisdiction.
- It is a regional issue. South Asia and South East Asia may be volatile for this issue. As a South Asian state, Nepal has some responsibilities.
- Nepal has a bitter experience in dealing with Bhutanese refugees. Nepal knows how refugees can become a burden and threat for a society. Bangladesh has been suffering from the same problem. As a well-wisher and friend, Nepal could understand Bangladesh’s sufferings in this regard. Thus, Nepal should do something as per its capabilities.
- Nepal has very good relations with both Myanmar and Bangladesh.
- Enhancing bilateral relations could contribute to the growth of trade and investment relations with ASEAN and SAARC countries. This will create an opportunity to serve grater regional interest.
- Re-establishing the Himalayan-South Asian connectivity can occur if political and diplomatic solutions of Bangladesh-Myanmar strained ties can be found.
- Normally, Bangladesh supports Nepal in every common international forum. Now it is time for Nepal to stand by Bangladesh in her crisis moment.
Nepal should consider these points. It can play a very significant role in this regard.
Therefore, as a well-wisher, friend and partner in the development process and trade, Bangladesh can expect cooperation and support of Nepal regarding the repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar. Bangladesh deserves it. So, Nepal should help and support Bangladesh and mediate in resolving the crisis as soon as possible.
*The writer is an activist, researcher, analyst and columnist based in Bangladesh.
December 6, 2021
The viewpoints expressed by the authors do not necessarily reflect the opinions, viewpoints and editorial policies of Aequitas Review.
