There are now some 26,000 plus refugees in two official camps in Cox's Bazar. The government of Bangladesh manages these camps with assistance from UN refugee agency, UNHCR. These refugees are the leftover of an estimated 250,000 refugees who left Myanmar fearing violations of human rights in the hands of the military regime during 1991- 92.

According to an official claim, so far about 237,000 refugees have returned to Myanmar. However, local people believe the opposite: almost all of the so-called repatriated Rohingyas came back to Bangladesh later on and continue to live here and there in greater Chittagong district. Birthrates among those Rohingyas, whether in the camps or outside, are reportedly very high.

Some estimates suggest that there are about 300,000 nationals of Myanmar (mostly Rohingyas) outside the official camps who are 'illegally' staying in the Cox's Bazar, Bandarban and Chittagong district.

The Rohingyas are an ethic group from the Northern Rakhine State (formerly Arakan State) of Myanmar. They are Muslim. They are persecuted in their home country, Myanmar. Out of about the 2.5 million Rohingyas, two million are reportedly now out of the country of their origin. They are in Bangladesh, Malaysia, Pakistan, India, Thailand, USA and in different Middle Eastern and European countries.

It is very unfortunate that the international community including the UN and influential States like the USA, UK, China and India have failed to perform their due role with regard to restoration of democracy and human rights in Myanmar.

There has been no repatriation of the Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh since 2006. In 2005, only 92 persons went back. On the other hand, there is an attempted move to make the problem linger. Some vested and interested groups including some religion-based local political parties and international agencies are behind this. They are reportedly negotiating with the government of Bangladesh for an arrangement to have permanent shelter for the remaining Rohingya refuges here.

The government of Bangladesh, which has provided shelter to the Rohingyas, should be vocal against any proposal for having permanent shelter for them in Bangladesh. The government should extensively talk with its Myanmar counterpart for taking back the remaining Rohingyas now staying here in Bangladesh recognised as refugees. The developed countries (so-called developed partners) should come forward in this regard without any vested interest and share the burden through resettling a significant portion of the remaining refugees in their respective countries.

The Adviser to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, is scheduled to visit Myanmar (from 25 April). He should raise the long-standing issue of taking back the Rohingyas while talking with his Myanmar counterpart.