Rohingya refuse to return to Myanmar

The head of Bangladesh’s refugee commission said plans to start the repatriation of 700,000 Rohingya Muslims to Myanmar yesterday were scrapped after officials were unable to find anyone who wanted to return.

The refugees “are not willing to go back now”, refugee commissioner Abul Kalam said. He adding that officials “can’t force them to go”, but will continue to try to “motivate them so it happens”. The announcement came after about 1,000 Rohingya demonstrated against returning to Myanmar from where hundreds of thousands fled army-led violence last year.

Bangladesh authorities had attempted to start the repatriation of the Rohingya despite calls from United Nations officials and human rights groups to hold off. According to a Un-brokered deal with Bangladesh and Myanmar, the Rohingya cannot be forced to repatriate. The countries had planned to send an initial group of 2,251 back from mid this month.