POBNEWS24, Dhaka , May 16, 2024 : The Middle Eastern country has made a list of 69,000 Rohingyas in Saudi Arabia in the passports of Bangladesh. They are urging Bangladesh to renew the passports of the Rohingyas as their passports have expired long ago.
During the bilateral talks with the Bangladesh Home Minister last Sunday, the Saudi Deputy Home Minister asked to know the reason for the delay.
Then the Home Minister of Bangladesh said that Bangladesh has decided to renew the passports of the 69,000 Rohingyas in Saudi Arabia.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan told a press conference in Dhaka, “They took Bangladeshi passports.” So we will only renew their passports Their name and address will remain as it is in the passport”.
Since 2010, Saudi Arabia has been pressuring Bangladesh to renew the passports of the Rohingyas.
However, former diplomats and international analysts believe that this decision may create some kind of crisis for Bangladesh.
Many analysts believe that Bangladesh is faced with both crises or a double-edged sword with the Rohingyas in Saudi Arabia.
There is a long-standing complaint that Rohingyas are going abroad using Bangladeshi passports.
Rohingyas in Saudi Arabia on Bangladeshi passports
After 1975, the Saudi government agreed to accept a part of the Rohingya from Bangladesh. Several Rohingyas from Bangladesh migrated to Saudi Arabia with Bangladeshi passports. Some Rohingyas who were then in Pakistan also went to Saudi Arabia in the same process.
Bangladesh issued passports to the Rohingyas despite being citizens of Myanmar for this immigration process.
Former and current officials of the country’s embassy said that at the end of the 90s, about 300,000 Rohingyas went to Saudi Arabia. A large number of them have been given various facilities as refugees by the government of that country.
Gholam Masih once served as the ambassador of Bangladesh in Saudi Arabia. He told this correspondent, “When Rohingyas were given passports, they were ordinary passports like other Bangladeshis. Nothing special was attached to their passports.
He said, “Rohingya people went once in 75-76, once in 83-84, once in 93-94”.
“At that time only a small number went there, but slowly they had sons and daughters, families grew”.
Mr. Mashi Talking about the year 2017, Masih told this correspondent, “I came to know about 35,000 Rohingyas’ passports have not been renewed.”
“There is a kind of crisis if their passports are not renewed. Because their sons and daughters cannot study, cannot go abroad. There are many problems with it”, said Mr. Mashi.
Immigration expert Asif Munir told this correspondent, “When Saudi Arabia wanted to take them, they were given passports to stay in Saudi Arabia.
” But now this analyst questioned whether it is possible to renew it and become a citizen of Bangladesh.
He says, “The issue is very sensitive because the passport they have is actually our valid passport. Our authorities have a place of accountability in providing those valid passports”.
Since August 25, 2017, millions of Rohingyas have come and taken refuge in Bangladesh.
Continued pressure from Saudi Arabia
Rohingyas displaced from Myanmar migrated to the Middle Eastern country on Bangladeshi passports about four decades ago. Since 2010, Saudi Arabia has been pressuring Bangladesh to renew their passports.
The last visit to Bangladesh was on 13 November 2022, the Deputy Interior Minister of the Saudi government, Nasir bin Abdul Aziz Al Dawood. Even then, he mentioned that 69,000 Rohingyas staying in that country do not have passports.
Saudi Arabia also requested to give them Bangladeshi passports. He had a meeting with the Home Minister of Bangladesh.
Later, a high-level committee or joint working group was formed to resolve the passport issues of Rohingyas living in Saudi Arabia.
After a year and a half, the country’s delegation again came to Bangladesh and talked about the same issue. In Sunday’s meeting, they asked Bangladesh clearly, why is it taking so long to renew the passports of 69,000 Rohingya?
After the meeting on the same day, Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said, “They requested us about this matter. We signed an agreement last year. Why are we going slow on that? They want to know if we have any problem or not”.
Former ambassador Gholam Masih said, “There is a rule in Saudi Arabia, no one can be stateless. Either they should have a passport or an ID card. That’s why there is naturally a kind of pressure from their side.”
Analysts say, “The names of these Rohingya citizens are appearing in various criminal activities from time to time. When they are detained, it is found that many of them do not have valid passports. Which is a big crisis for that country.
Immigration expert Asif Munir says, “Since the numbers are slowly increasing, the Saudi government itself does not want to take responsibility for them. Moreover, when they are doing criminal activities, the name of Bangladesh comes up. Maybe that’s why they are pressuring Bangladesh”.About 1.2 million Rohingya are living in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh will renew
Bangladesh has finally agreed to renew the passports of the 69,000 Rohingyas in the country after several years of requests from the Saudi government.
After the meeting with the delegation of Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said, “They took Bangladeshi passports then.” So we will just renew it”.
Bangladesh embassy officials working in Saudi did not agree to make any comment claiming that this matter is sensitive.
However, they say, the rule of Saudi is that no state will remain stateless. He has to have the identity of some country. That is why Saudi Arabia is talking about this issue.
Former ambassador Mr. Masih says, “If it is found through verification that he has really left Bangladesh, then the Bangladesh government will naturally take a step.”
However, experts believe that this work is very time-consuming.
Asif Munir told this correspondent, “Since Rohingyas are not citizens of Bangladesh. Now a bilateral solution should be reached in talks with the United Nations to renew their passports”.
However, former diplomats are advising to insist on keeping them in Saudi if renewed.
Because many fear that many Rohingyas involved in crimes or sentenced to have Bangladeshi passports may be sent back to their country.
Since 1992, Rohingyas who have crossed the border into Bangladesh have not been recognized as refugees.
Bangladesh in both crises
After 1975, the Rohingyas immigrated to Saudi Arabia with Bangladeshi passports, but their renewal of passports started from 2010.
The number of Rohingyas was less then, but now it has slowly started to increase.
Former ambassador Golam Masih says, “This number is increasing due to the increase in family size. Saudi Arabia is also giving importance to this issue.
However, analysts believe that by renewing the passports of the Rohingyas, three new crises will be important in front of Bangladesh.
They fear that if Saudi Arabia sends them back to Bangladesh for any reason after the passports are renewed, Bangladesh will be obliged to accept them.
Former Foreign Secretary Touhid Hossain told this correspondent, “Saudi Arabia was already in a place of sympathy for the Rohingyas.” I think they moved from there. There is a high possibility of repatriation of Rohingyas from Saudi Arabia after the renewal”.
However, former ambassador Ghulam Masih says, “Saudi Arabia has confirmed that they will not send anyone back to Bangladesh if it is renewed.” In that case, it should be kept in mind that there should be opportunities for them to work, and that there should be no other crisis”.
Immigration expert Asif Munir emphasizes another reason.
He says, “When they were given passports, they were given as Rohingya citizens to go to Saudi Arabia. Now renewing it means giving Bangladeshi citizenship to Rohingyas. Where there are 1.2 million Rohingya in the country. If they are sent back to Bangladesh for any reason, Bangladesh will have no option but to accept it.”
Diplomats are of the opinion that if the Rohingyas are given passports in such a situation, there may be problems in Bangladesh’s negotiations in the international arena to send back the 1.2 million Rohingyas who are in camps.
Former Foreign Secretary Towhid Hossain told this correspondent, “Once they are recognized as citizens of Bangladesh, there will never be a chance to send these 69,000 Rohingya back to Myanmar.” In that case, an international crisis may also arise in sending back those 1.2 million Rohingya citizens.
Also, due to Bangladesh’s close relationship with Saudi Arabia, the huge labor market and financial relations in that country, Bangladesh cannot even refuse their request. Because that can have a negative impact on the labor market.
So is it possible to solve this issue without renewing? Immigration experts do not see much hope in such a question.
Immigration expert Asif Munir told this correspondent, “In this case, Bangladesh will have to find a solution to the crisis through an international organization.”
As a result, Bangladesh is facing a double-edged sword with the Rohingyas in Saudi Arabia. Says Hussain.
According to him, “If we do not listen to them, they can impose various restrictions on our citizens in their countries. On the other hand, if we do not accept it, then we cannot settle our position regarding the Rohingyas”.
