Rohingya reluctant to return

COX'S BAZAR, Aug 21: The Rohingya refugees are reluctant to return to their homeland Myanmar until their demands are met. The refugees expressed their reluctance to government officials and UN representatives during their interviews recently.

According to sources, the government and UN officials interviewed the Rohingya refugees in Jadimura camp and Shalbon camp of Teknaf upazila who were enlisted for today's (Thursday) repatriation. Their interviews were held on Tuesday and Wednesday.

About 300 out of the 3,540 Rohingya refugees enlisted for repatriation to Myanmar appeared for interviews at the camps, camp officials said.

Most of the refugees who attended the interviews said to the officials that they did not want to go back to their country without the guarantee that they would have security of life, citizenship and a place where they would not be tortured and oppressed like before.

While talking to the reporters, Rohingya refugees Abdur Rahman (40) and Rafiq Mia (36) who are enlisted for today's repatriation said, "UNHCR officials came to our camp houses and said that we had to go to the camp in-charge office as our families were on the list for repatriation. But we told them we wouldn't return to Myanmar because the Myanmar government has not fulfilled all our demands." Many refugees gave same answer to the officials and reporters.

When contacted, Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC) Mohammad Abul Kalam said, "We have taken all necessary preparations to start repatriation of Rohingyas from Thursday".

Bangladesh and Myanmar are trying to resume the repatriation of Rohingya refugees on a small scale from today (Thursday).

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