KALADAN NEWS

Date: Tuesday, June 15, 2004

Only 30 Refugees Repatriated within two Months after Burmese PM’s Visit at Bangladesh

Cox’s Bazar, June 15: After two months of Burma’s Prime Minister Khin Nyunt’s visit to Bangladesh, only 30 Burmese Rohingya refugees were repatriated though he assured the Bangladesh authorities all the refugees should be repatriated soon according to the procedure, according to Mr. Giyas Uddin. 

On March 8, 2004, Nasaka pushed back six-repatriated Rohingya refugees into Bangladesh and the tense situation was prevailed between two governments. It caused repatriation temporally blocked till May. 

But repatriation was resumed in May. On 3^rd May 19 refugees and on 11^th May 11 refugees of two families, in total 30, refugees were repatriated. Only 139 refugees were repatriated this year (till June15, 2004). 

Ahmed Giyas Uddin, a reporter of Dainik Cox’s Bazar said, “ At present, officially about 19,723 refugees are staying in Nayapara and Kutupalong refugee camps. But, local people said at least 20,500 refugees are living in two refugee camps, which are established Teknaf and Ukiya of Cox’s Bazar District.” 

In 2003, there were 1030 children were born and dead 79 in two refugee camps and so, 951 children were increased as a new refugees in the existing figure. Thus, those numbers who were repatriated in six years (1998 to 2003) in the same period, the total number in the camps was swelled by the births of children. 

In 1991-92 alone, discrimination, violence and the imposition of forced labor practices by Burmese authorities triggered and exodus of some 250,000 Rohingya across the border into Bangladesh. Afterwards, an agreement was signed in September1992 for repatriation of Burmese Rohingya refugees after discussion between Burma and Bangladesh governments. But, in 1992, within 4 months (Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan) 5,962 refugees were repatriated.  

From 1993 to 1996, a total of 2,13,431 refugees were repatriated. But, in 1997, the refugee repatriation was totally blocked for many reasons. 

After blocking of 16 months, the repatriation was resumed in 1998. From 1998 to 2003, in six years, a total of 6,831 refugees were repatriated, according to Daily Cox’s Bazar (Bengali Newspaper). ## 

For more information, please contact at:

Mobile: +880 11 227 138

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.kaladanpress.org