By: F.F Mushfika

The history of Rohingya Muslims is an account of a long-driven struggle of a particular group who has been denied of a state for ages. Rohingya Muslims are a minority class – originally from Burma, the country we call as Myanmar today. Regardless of where they claim to belong, Rohingya people are deprived of the most fundamental rights such as the right to live. For them, it is a privilege to feel safe. For them, it is a privilege to have a sound education. For them, it is a privilege to co-exist.

What is it like to be stateless? What is it like to be abused in front of your own family by strangers? What is it like to live to be deprived of having no citizenship on your own country? This is the gruesome reality of the Rohingya- the chief minority class residing at Rakhine state at Western Coast of Myanmar. They are the people who are commonly addressed as “the most persecuted minority in the world” by the United Nations. They are the people who are being integrated into a system that essentially legalizes oppression and discrimination as a part of the law. Myanmar – owing to their claim that Rohingya to be outsiders and “illegal immigrants,” fails to recognize their original history, decent and birth. The 1982 Citizenship Law deprives the Rohingya people from the constitution as a non-citizen and stateless human beings. Regardless of an inclusion of 135 races into the constitution- the Rohingya has been excluded throughout the history coercing them to be displaced.

The state-sponsored oppression that commenced as a form of “operation Dragon King” in 1978 is a military rule deployed to evacuate the Rohingya through misappropriation, threat, sexual exploitation, and violence. During which, a mass number of population were displaced to their neighboring country Bangladesh- who has been a constant shelter for the hopeless Rohingyas. Likewise, the Myanmar government also organized several other campaigns such as “Beautiful Nation” and” Operation Clean” to expel the Rohingyas from the country. It is said that approximately 250,000 innocent civilians were displaced during this mission towards the late 1990’s.

Moreover, the Rohingya are frequently alleged to be involved in “terrorism” – which has a massive impact on their lives being controlled by measures taken to curtail “terrorism”. The discrimination that the Rohingya Muslims face as of today is immense and intolerable. This leads us to the biggest humanitarian crisis of the world at-present. The biographies include heart wrenching stories of poverty, hunger, and abuses that are certainly sensitive in nature. There has also been reported and unreported mass murders and rapes which has further led the population into mass displacements and expulsion. In short, Myanmar holds the darkest history and events of an ethnic cleansing towards their minorities regardless of any mercy.

Bangladesh- an “aspiration” to struggling civilians

Due to the decades of ethnic cleansing and coercion to displacement – Rohingya people are expelled to Bangladesh as their immediate neighbor and savior. Bangladesh shielded these innocent civilians as refugees – giving them the mandatory shelter and right to live. The greater percentage of the population has now settled down at Cox’s Bazar of Southeast. Currently, Bangladesh is facing a huge crisis in overcrowding populace of the Rohingya community. This has led to the downfall of a good maintenance in infrastructure, medic-care, and other basic necessities for the people. The Bangladesh is also on the process and open talks with the Myanmar for a safe repatriation of the Rohingyas. They have hugely supported the Rohingya people to repatriate with a sensible negotiation and agreement.

However, in 2017 the Myanmar-Rohingya crisis intensified due to an attack by the Rohingya Militants- murdering some, which then backlashed into a series of destruction and colonization of Rohingya people. This further exacerbated the situation towards something similar to a “genocide.” This has eventually led the Rohingya people to flee the country from horrific persecutions. Later, the refugees demanded safety over repatriation which burdened the Bangladesh with no immediate solution for the growing issue. Thereby, this led the refugees to be planted in camps – organized by Bangladesh, the host country with the aid of the international community. It is said that these refugees were established in 19 camps in Bangladesh back in their 1992. However, nowadays the significant refugee camp is Cox’s Bazar. In fact, unable for the prevention of the escalating number of the exodus of Burma, Bangladesh today is finding terms and conditions to prevent or repatriate the refugees back to their origin. This is also a reflection of a ‘temporary assistance’ to the most desperate community.

Bangladesh, then proceeded to impose laws to restrict movements of the Rohingya people within their limited territory. They were not allowed to move outside their borders, hence was also marginalized. These policies were said to be created to stabilize Bangladesh for a safe background. In other words, security of the country became the dominated factor in curtailing the movements of these civilians of Myanmar. There have been serious allegations over the Rohingya – alleging them to have connections with ISIS and Al-Qaeda. Whether they are fighting for their democracy or for an independent state, the Rohingya people are asserted as ‘terrorists’ or ‘possible terrorists.’ These baseless allegations are of pivotal importance. Preventive policies have become a mandatory discussion which attempts to avoid any consequences over solutions to a particular group. This is therefore directing the Bangladesh government to skip their duty over the alleged emergence of rising security threats. Although, this is a debatable occasion, no leaders desire to risk security protocols which will eventually de-fame them.

The notion of Rohingya being a security threat

Following “Dhaka Global Dialogue-2019” held at Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addressed that,

“In terms of regional security, I would like to say that more than 1.1 million Rohingya citizens of Myanmar fled to Bangladesh in the face of persecution, and they are a threat to the security not only for Bangladesh but also for the region.”

She also insisted upon action - calling out as,

“I urge the world community to take appropriate action realizing the gravity of the threat. It will not be possible to ensure development and prosperity of any country without having peace and safety.”

In addition to that, May 23^rd of 2022 she re-insisted the above with another formal request to the International Community to provide a safe return to the Rohingya community. It is evident that she is in fact seeking the solution for the bigger problem that may or may not arise in the future. The exodus of the refugees of the Myanmar has escalated, which has created many issues pertaining to the humanitarian and security crisis.

The security threat being a controversial topic, cannot be snapped due to its weigh upon the consequences. The migrated Rohingya civilians have reported to have settled down in Bangladesh and India regardless of any approval. Their vulnerable situation of being homeless to stateless, the constant pressure of injustice and ethnic hostility at Rakhine state, the abuse and serious violations of rights have caused a fear of a Muslim revolution. The ignorance to their grievances which is not short-lived but is deep-rooted with a long history of violence and persecutions. This forwards for an assumption of insurgency and questions the security of the host country and their borders, respectively. The incident in October 2016 – a surprise attack upon the Myanmar’s police is of a genuine concern. As reported by the Myanmar government it was held that the necessary funding for this targeted project of attacking the police officers was received through international terrorist organizations. This has crippled the efforts of repatriation process and led to serious repercussions such as counter-insurgency campaign by the Militants at Myanmar. The violence that followed by the execution of human rights violations were countless and partly unreported to the world. This grave and dark history has invaded the minds with significant concern and doubt over the plight of the Burmese Muslims.

The International Crisis Group too has declared of an imminent radicalization of Rohingya due to their vulnerable state which is a trump card to several terrorist organizations. They also warned upon their study that Bangladesh could be used as a base for their respective agendas bringing the worst nightmare of destructions of several kind.

The oppression and marginalization of the Rohingya for decades with less to no hope are expected to attract youths and people of the community into violence and terrorism. Although they do not imply as an extremist mob – their struggle to freedom fight and ownership of a state and citizenship right might avert the young minds into violent behavior. Hence, it is important to note that the security threat to Bangladesh by the Rohingya is of a grave concern.

What needs to be done?

A 19-year-old refugee at Nayapara camp in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, talks as

“I was born in Burma, but the Burmese government says I don’t belong there. I grew up in Bangladesh, but the Bangladesh government says I cannot stay here. As a Rohingya, I feel I am caught between a crocodile and a snake.”

The world is not too late to stop this from happening. Although the situation between the Rohingya and Myanmar has aggravated after several incidents on both sides, it is crucial that the Bangladesh with the help of the international communities talk peace. It is also in dire need to establish Rohingya with a most dignified manner – providing that they are getting the privileges of a citizen in their home country with no fear of violations. It is pathetic that they remain to be stateless, and it is predominantly vital that the world discusses about their rights and upholds it before it is too late.

To sum up, Aung San Suu Kyi- the Noble Prize winner for Peace in 1991 who later assumed duty as a state counselor of Myanmar, who has been continuously criticized for her hesitant to acknowledge the crimes and atrocities towards Rohingya in Rakhine State, once ironically quoted that,

“Peace does not just mean putting an end to violence or war, but to all other factors that threaten peace, such as discrimination, such as inequality, poverty.”