The World Bank’s proposed ‘Refugee Policy Review Framework’ is a “global document, not specific to any countries”, the Washington-based lender says.
“The World Bank is supporting the government of Bangladesh with $590 million grant financing to address the needs of the displaced Rohingya population until their safe and voluntary return to Myanmar, and to minimize the impact on the host communities,” said Mercy Tembon, World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan.
“The proposed Refugee Policy Review Framework aims at evaluating the effectiveness of the World Bank’s support to refugee hosting countries across the world in their efforts to strengthen relevant policies and institutions to best manage the situation. The review for Bangladesh summarises the existent policies, practices and implementation.”
The comment came following the media report on the proposed Refugee Policy Review Framework that Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said suggested integration of Rohingyas into Bangladesh.
He, however, rejected such a proposal and told Bangladesh Post that: “In our county we don’t have refugees. Rohingyas are not refugees. They are displaced people temporarily sheltered in Bangladesh. We did not sign the refugee convention. So we don’t recognise them as refugees”.
Bangladesh is hosting over 1.2 million forcefully displaced Rohingyas of Myanmar’s Rakhine state and most of them arrived here since August 25, 2017 after a military crackdown which has been termed as a ‘text book example of ethnic cleansing’ by the UN.
The UN Human Rights Council unanimously adopted a resolution calling for a solution to the Rohingya crisis in July this year.
This is the first time that any resolution on the issue was adopted in the UN without a vote since the massive influx of the Rohingya refugees from Myanmar into Bangladesh in August 2017.
Dhaka has always been serious about their safe and dignified return and signed deals with Myanmar in this regard. The government is also ensuring education to the children in their local language so that they can reintegrate once returned to the Rakhine State. However, the Myanmar authority did not take back any Rohingya so far.
The World Bank in its proposal which was sent to the Economic Relations Division suggested steps so that they can be integrated into Bangladesh. Those steps include issuing birth certificate, teaching them local language and providing jobs without any discrimination.
The foreign minister told Bangladesh Post that the World Bank prepared the report based on 16 countries on how to reintegrate refugees. They will fund those programmes.
“We cannot be a party to this guideline,” he said as the government does not recognise them as refugees.
“They (WB) said they (Rohingya) should get the job in Bangladesh. They should be offered with all rights and privileges as Bangladeshi nationals. Then they can be integrated in the society and they can have a better future”.
“We said no, we don’t agree with this. You give money to them as Rohingya in Bangladesh and you spend it. It’s your duty to give them service. So give them that service.”
Asked about the ramification of rejecting the Washington-based lender’s proposal, the foreign minister said: “We are not that much dependent on aid”.
“We said you take them (Rohingya) to another country and spend your money there. If needed, we will give some funds for that,” he said, adding that Rohingyas will have a better future back in their country of origin.
