Dhaka
Bangladesh plans to send 20,000 Rohingya refugees annually to the United States, aiming to relocate 200,000 over the next decade, according to Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain. While the number is small, it is seen as a step toward a long-term solution. The resettlement process is currently in a pilot phase, with a few hundred refugees being relocated at a time.
So far, around 2,500 Rohingyas have been selected for relocation, and the process is being accelerated. The Rohingya crisis began in August 2017 when Myanmar’s military launched an operation in Rakhine State, forcing the Rohingya population to flee to Bangladesh and other countries.
By the end of 2017, 750,000 Rohingyas had taken refuge in Cox’s Bazar, joining 400,000 already living in camps. Myanmar had agreed to repatriate the refugees by the end of that year, but the effort was delayed. Trust issues with Myanmar and the COVID-19 pandemic further hindered the repatriation process.
The situation worsened in 2021 when Myanmar’s military took control, complicating repatriation efforts. With ongoing civil conflict in Myanmar and new arrivals of Rohingya refugees, repatriation talks remain stalled. Since December 2022, the US government has gradually resettled about 2,500 Rohingyas. Hossain stated that while repatriation is not currently possible, stability in Myanmar will be necessary for future efforts, with international cooperation key to resolving the crisis.
