For years, the world has asked why the Rohingya do not simply go home. A new survey offers a clear answer: they would, but not on Myanmar’s current terms. More than 87 per cent of respondents said they will not return unless five conditions are met, and the first is the one Myanmar has refused for decades: citizenship. For people who fled violence and now live stateless in crowded camps, going back without legal belonging would mean returning to the same danger.
What the Survey Found
Of the 816 Rohingya who took part, 713 said they did not want to return to Myanmar. About 65 per cent of participants were men, and 35 per cent were women. The research stresses that this is not a blanket refusal. Respondents said they would return if specific conditions are met.
Q1. Why has the Rohingya return to Myanmar remained such a difficult challenge?
From security concerns to conditions in Myanmar, explore the major hurdles standing in the way of Rohingya repatriation.
Q2. What happens when food shortages and climate risks collide in Rohingya camps?
Explore how hunger, climate pressures and ration cuts are adding to the hardships faced by Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.
Q3. How is the UAE supporting Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh?
From humanitarian assistance to refugee support, discover the UAE’s role in helping Rohingya communities facing a prolonged crisis.
Q4. Why are Rohingya refugees turning to bank accounts and formal financial channels in Bangladesh?
Take a closer look at Rohingya banking access, financial transactions and the concerns surrounding hundi networks.
Q5. What could Tarique Rahman’s UNGA visit mean for Bangladesh’s international messaging?
Explore the key focus and diplomatic significance of Tarique Rahman’s UNGA visit as Bangladesh engages with the wider international community.
Demand 1: Citizenship and Recognition
Myanmar does not recognise the Rohingya as an ethnic group and denies them citizenship, leaving them stateless. Rohingya representative Md Shafiq said the main problem is citizenship, and that without it, land rights and security, repatriation will not be sustainable.
Demand 2: Security and International Oversight
Refugees want safety guaranteed after return, with international oversight. More than 740,000 Rohingya fled a 2017 military campaign that a UN official branded a textbook example of ethnic cleansing. Memories of that violence remain fresh.
Demand 3: Land, Homes and Rehabilitation
Many homes and villages were destroyed. Refugees want their own land and houses back, with rehabilitation, rather than being resettled elsewhere.
Demand 4: Freedom of Movement and Basic Services
The fourth condition is freedom of movement and access to healthcare, education and livelihoods. Without these, return would simply exchange one form of confinement for another.
Demand 5: Justice and Accountability
Refugees also want justice for the crimes committed against them. In earlier protests, they said a safe, voluntary and dignified return means full citizenship, an end to discrimination and accountability for abuses.
A Pattern That Keeps Repeating
These demands are not new. Repatriation attempts in 2018 and 2019 failed when listed refugees refused to go. In August 2019, buses sat empty in Cox’s Bazar because nobody turned up. Refugees then held up handwritten lists with nearly the same demands.
Trust and Insecurity in the Camps
The survey found that respondents trusted the Bangladesh government most, at nearly 56 per cent. Respondents also alleged that five to six armed groups control the camps from the afternoon onwards, adding to their sense of insecurity.
What Comes Next
Repatriation is likely to keep stalling until Myanmar addresses citizenship and safety. For Bangladesh and the international community, the lesson is that return must be voluntary, safe and dignified to last.
