India has assured Bangladesh of its support for the early repatriation of Rohingya refugees who fled a crackdown by Myanmar's military and are now living in camps in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar district.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh gave the assurance when visiting Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, who called on both of them separately in New Delhi on Thursday, according to a press release issued by the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi.
Tensions have recently risen between the two countries as at least 1,300 Rohingya Muslims have reportedly crossed into Bangladesh from India since the start of the year in fear of forced deportation to Myanmar.
Some 40,000 Rohingya are believed to have taken shelter in India over the years, according to media reports.
Bangladesh also foiled an attempt in January by 31 Rohingya refugees to enter the country after being stranded in no-man’s land between the two countries’ borders for four days.
Momen met Modi and asked for India’s support for early repatriation of the Rohingya to their birthplace in Myanmar’s Rakhine State. Modi reiterated that India is always with Bangladesh and assured him of India’s cooperation.
Rohingya refugees as well as rights bodies have been demanding safety guarantees and citizenship rights before repatriation, however.
Singh also noted that the early repatriation of Rohingya is a priority and assured that they will be supporting the Indian government in any initiative toward this objective.
- Persecuted people
The Rohingya, described by the UN as the world's most persecuted people, have faced heightened fears of attack since dozens were killed in communal violence in 2012.
According to Amnesty International, more than 750,000 Rohingya refugees, mostly women and children, have fled Myanmar and crossed into Bangladesh after Myanmar forces launched a crackdown on the minority Muslim community in August 2017.
Since Aug. 25, 2017, nearly 24,000 Rohingya Muslims have been killed by Myanmar’s state forces, according to a report by the Ontario International Development Agency (OIDA).
More than 34,000 Rohingya were also thrown into fires, while over 114,000 others were beaten, said the OIDA report, titled "Forced Migration of Rohingya: The Untold Experience".
Some 18,000 Rohingya women and girls were raped by Myanmar’s army and police and over 115,000 Rohingya homes were burned down and 113,000 others vandalized, it added.
The UN has also documented mass gang rapes, killings – including of infants and young children – brutal beatings and disappearances committed by Myanmar state forces.
In a report, UN investigators said such violations may have constituted crimes against humanity.
