• Burmese
Saturday, July 19, 2025
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Irrawaddy
28 °c
Yangon
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
No Result
View All Result
The Irrawaddy
No Result
View All Result
Home News Asia

HRW Urges Bangladesh to Halt Rohingya Returns

Muktadir Rashid   by Muktadir Rashid  
March 31, 2023
in Asia
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0 0
A A
HRW Urges Bangladesh to Halt Rohingya Returns

...

4.3k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

DHAKA — Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Friday called on Bangladesh to suspend plans to send Rohingya refugees back to Myanmar, where their lives would be at risk.

Myanmar’s junta interviewed around 480 Rohingya in Cox’s Bazar recently for the repatriation project.

The New York-based rights group said the Rohingyas were deceived or coerced by Bangladeshi administrators into meeting the junta delegation for the pilot project to return about 1,000 refugees. Some were told about possible resettlement to a third country, the statement said.

RelatedPosts

The Nation Where Brave Hearts—and Martyrs—Dwell

The Nation Where Brave Hearts—and Martyrs—Dwell

July 19, 2025
116
Myanmar Junta Using Conscripts as Cannon Fodder, Defectors Say

Myanmar Junta Using Conscripts as Cannon Fodder, Defectors Say

July 18, 2025
468
Political assassinations and Myanmar’s fate

Political assassinations and Myanmar’s fate

July 18, 2025
150

“Voluntary, safe and dignified returns of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar are not possible while the military junta is carrying out massacres around the country and apartheid in Rakhine State,” said Meenakshi Ganguly of HRW. “Bangladesh authorities should stop deceiving these refugees to get them to engage with junta officials when it’s clear that Rohingya will only be able to return safely when rights-respecting rule is established.”

Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, Bangladesh’s refugee relief and repatriation commissioner, was unavailable for comment. But an anonymous government source dismissed the allegations.

“It was a voluntary option for the Rohingya to attend the interview and those who wanted to be interviewed met the Myanmar officials…there was no use of force,” the source said.

On March 22, officials from Myanmar junta’s immigration and population ministries left Bangladesh after interviewing around 480 Rohingya in Cox’s Bazar.

The 17-member delegation, led by Aung Myo, the social welfare minister for Rakhine State, started interviewing Rohingyas on March 15.

Aung Myo said the delegation selecting for a “family-based repatriation” project.

The regime originally cleared 711 Rohingyas out of 1,140 recommended by Bangladesh and visited Cox’s Bazar to interview the 429 rejected.

Bangladesh said the initial number was 429 but many families added members through marriage.

HRW stated that conditions in Rakhine State are not “conducive” to voluntary, safe or dignified returns. In 2017 more than 730,000 Rohingya fled Myanmar’s military crimes against humanity and acts of genocide.

“The prospect of durable returns has grown ever more distant since the February 2021 coup in Myanmar, carried out by the same generals who orchestrated the 2017 mass atrocities,” the statement read.

Bangladesh has not compelled these refugees to return and should continue that policy with the support of international donors, HRW said.

The junta’s repatriation program could reportedly start by mid-April.

HRW said it interviewed 15 Rohingya about their verification interviews.

They had not been informed about the junta meeting or that they were being considered for repatriation.

“I wasn’t informed that I would be interviewed by the Myanmar delegation,” a Rohingya man told HRW.

He said Bangladeshi officials told him to be available on March 15 to

“be interviewed for the opportunity to go abroad for resettlement. I never realized it was a Myanmar delegation I was going to meet or that it was about repatriation”.

The man said the official said the police could force him to attend the interview.

A Rohingya community leader said he was not informed about the reason for the interview and threatened with police intervention if he resisted.

Two previous repatriation attempts undertaken in November 2018 and August 2019 failed amid ongoing persecution and abuse in Myanmar.

Myanmar’s junta this month took diplomats from Bangladesh, India, China and five other countries to Rakhine State to promote Rohingya repatriations.

The United Nations agency for refugees, UNHCR, stated on March 19 that “conditions in Rakhine State are currently not conducive to the sustainable return of Rohingya refugees”, adding that no refugee should be forced to return.

Your Thoughts …
Tags: Bangladeshcivil disobedience movementcivilian deathsCoupcrackdownDemocracyHuman RightsHuman Rights Watchjuntamilitary in politicsmilitary regimeMin Aung HlaingNational League for DemocracyNational Unity GovernmentNovember 8 general electionPDFPeople’s Defense Forcepeople’s warPolitical PrisonersregimerepatriationRohingyaRule of LawState Administrative CouncilState Counselor Daw Aung San Suu KyiTatmadaw
Muktadir Rashid  

Muktadir Rashid  

The Irrawaddy

Similar Picks:

As Myanmar’s Military Stumbles, a Top General’s Dissapearance Fuels Intrigue
Burma

As Myanmar’s Military Stumbles, a Top General’s Dissapearance Fuels Intrigue

by The Irrawaddy
April 19, 2024
47k

The junta’s No. 2 has not been seen in public since April 3, sparking rumors that he was either gravely...

Read moreDetails
Enter the Dragon, Exit the Junta: Myanmar’s Brotherhood Alliance makes Chinese New Year Vow
Burma

Enter the Dragon, Exit the Junta: Myanmar’s Brotherhood Alliance makes Chinese New Year Vow

by The Irrawaddy
February 12, 2024
44.8k

Ethnic armed grouping says it will continue Operation 1027 offensive until goal of ousting the junta is achieved. 

Read moreDetails
Drone Attack at Myanmar-China Border Gate Causes Over $14m in Losses
Business

Drone Attack at Myanmar-China Border Gate Causes Over $14m in Losses

by The Irrawaddy
November 27, 2023
38.6k

Jin San Jiao is latest northern Shan State trade hub in crosshairs of ethnic Brotherhood Alliance.

Read moreDetails
Arakan Army Captures Myanmar Junta Brigade General in Chin State Rout: Report
Burma

Arakan Army Captures Myanmar Junta Brigade General in Chin State Rout: Report

by The Irrawaddy
January 15, 2024
36.6k

Rakhine-based armed group has reportedly detained the chief of 19th Military Operations Command after seizing his base in Paletwa Township.

Read moreDetails
Myanmar Coup Leader Showers Medals on Troops as String of Defeats Erodes Morale
Burma

Myanmar Coup Leader Showers Medals on Troops as String of Defeats Erodes Morale

by The Irrawaddy
December 8, 2023
32.9k

Min Aung Hlaing was trying to distract attention from a string of military defeats by handing out 147 medals for...

Read moreDetails
Myanmar Junta Arrests Thai Condo Buyers, Realtors as Currency Crashes
Business

Myanmar Junta Arrests Thai Condo Buyers, Realtors as Currency Crashes

by The Irrawaddy
June 4, 2024
27.7k

Monday’s arrests follow reports that Myanmar has become one of Thailand’s most lucrative markets for selling condos since the 2021...

Read moreDetails
Load More
Next Post
Myanmar Regime Sentences Jailed NLD Lawmaker to 11 More Years in Prison

Myanmar Regime Sentences Jailed NLD Lawmaker to 11 More Years in Prison

Myanmar Junta Meets Allied Ethnic Armed Groups

Myanmar Junta Meets Allied Ethnic Armed Groups, Eyes Peace Conference

No Result
View All Result

Recommended

What the ‘Snake Charmer’ Analogy Gets Wrong About Myanmar

What the ‘Snake Charmer’ Analogy Gets Wrong About Myanmar

4 days ago
1.5k
Chinese Investment Reshapes Myanmar’s N. Shan as MNDAA Consolidates Power

Chinese Investment Reshapes Myanmar’s N. Shan as MNDAA Consolidates Power

1 week ago
3.5k

Most Read

  • Myanmar Junta Airstrikes Protecting Irrawaddy Flotilla Kill 20

    Myanmar Junta Airstrikes Protecting Irrawaddy Flotilla Kill 20

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • More Than 20,000 Displaced As Myanmar Junta Burns Homes Around World Heritage Site

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Indian Top Brass Visit Myanmar After Cross-Border Drone Attack

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta’s Recapture of Nawnghkio Shows Strategic Missteps by TNLA

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta Using Conscripts as Cannon Fodder, Defectors Say

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter

Get The Irrawaddy’s latest news, analyses and opinion pieces on Myanmar in your inbox.

Subscribe here for daily updates.

Contents

  • News
  • Politics
  • War Against the Junta
  • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
  • Conflicts In Numbers
  • Junta Crony
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Asia
  • World
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Election 2020
  • Elections in History
  • Cartoons
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Commentary
  • Guest Column
  • Analysis
  • Letters
  • In Person
  • Interview
  • Profile
  • Dateline
  • Specials
  • Myanmar Diary
  • Women & Gender
  • Places in History
  • On This Day
  • From the Archive
  • Myanmar & COVID-19
  • Intelligence
  • Myanmar-China Watch
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Fashion & Design
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Photo Essay
  • Donation

About The Irrawaddy

Founded in 1993 by a group of Myanmar journalists living in exile in Thailand, The Irrawaddy is a leading source of reliable news, information, and analysis on Burma/Myanmar and the Southeast Asian region. From its inception, The Irrawaddy has been an independent news media group, unaffiliated with any political party, organization or government. We believe that media must be free and independent and we strive to preserve press freedom.

  • Copyright
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Team
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Burmese

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Business Roundup
  • Books
  • Donation

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.