Hasina to Deport Rohingyas

Any conflict or violence in the neighborhood of India negatively impacts the situation in India. The Persecuted population of that country conveniently infiltrates India through the porous border. Earlier in the 1970s, during the Bangladesh liberation war, about 10 million Bangladeshis immigrated to India. The process of infiltration continued even after the formation of Bangladesh. Similarly, Rohingyas, the Muslim population of Myanmar, were infiltrated deep into India after the conflict in their country in 2017. After the deadly conflict between the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army and Myanmar’s military, about a million Rohingyas were forced to leave their country and take shelter in neighboring areas.

Reports suggest that of about 2 million Rohingyas, over 1.3 million migrated to Bangladesh and 40,000 thousand to India. In this scenario, the mass foreign population has become a burden on the already limited resources of the respective countries. Thus, it is imperative that these people are deported back to their own countries.

Hasina to Deport Rohingyas

Before her visit to India, Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina in an interview with ANI talked comprehensively about the various subjects of today’s visit. Other than political and economic matters, Hasina also said that she will have a formal conversation about the Rohingya problems with India.

Replying to the repatriation issue of Rohingyas, she said, “Well you know…for us, it’s a big burden. India is a vast country, you can accommodate but you don’t have much. But in our country…we have 1.1 million Rohingya. So well…we are consulting with the international community and also our neighboring countries. They should also take some steps so that they can go back home”.

Further talking about building consensus with organizations and countries to deport them, she said, “…we have been trying our best to pursue them, we’re discussing with them and also the international community, like ASEAN or UNO, then other countries. That time they were facing many troubles. You know that, so we’ve given them shelter, but now they should go back to their country. But India as a neighbor country, they can play a big role in it I feel that”.

Also Read: Dear Amit Shah, NRC & CAA can wait, kick the Rohingyas out first

Rohingyas: A Cancer to Social Body

It is pertinent to understand that socially suppressed and economically disadvantaged people are most prone to indulge in illegal activities. They are more vulnerable to indulging in organized crimes like drugs, human & cattle trafficking, prostitution and fake currency circulation. Further, they are also very much associated with the local criminals in theft, murder, robbery, or kidnappings. There are multiple reports which suggest that Rohingyas were actively involved in Jahangirpuri and the 2020 Delhi riots in the national capital.

Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, recounting the problem associated with Rohingyas said, “..our environment hazard is there. Then some people engage in drug trafficking or some arms conflict, women trafficking, day by day it is increasing”.

India should not collude with Bangladesh

The Supreme Court of India hearing a petition against the deportation of Rohingyas has stated that India is not a party to the Refugee Convention, 1951, or its 1967 Protocol and does not have a national refugee protection framework. Thus, taking note of the Union’s national security concerns, the Court refused to grant relief in the petition. The Court in its order concluded that deportation of Rohingyas is allowed with the procedure prescribed.

Legally, the government is capable enough to deport every single Rohingya from the Country. While the Bangladeshi PM seeks India’s help to deport all Rohingyas back to Myanmar, it must be kept in mind that her country’s problem is big. As her country possesses about 1.3 million Rohingyas, it will be a cumbersome process to deport them all. It will need a world’s consensus to initiate this process.

Also Read: Rohingyas and Myanmar nationals entering the Northeast have become a major security issue, 14 arrested with fake Aadhaar cards

Although India with limited Rohingya infiltrators can persuade Myanmar to take back its Citizens. But, taking Bangladesh on board will derail its own process of deportation. As the US has already imposed heavy sanctions on Myanmar, it will be very difficult to persuade the country to fulfill its demands. Consequently, it is important that India deport Rohingyas with the help of Myanmar. Also, strengthen the security architecture around the Bangladesh border as most of the Rohingyas are infiltrating through its eastern border. The talk should also include the deportation process of Bangladeshi infiltrators.