Paper details
| Paper authors | Bulbul Siddiqi |
| In panel on | Managing governance of forced displacement and refugee crises: can lessons be learned from the host communities? |
| Paper presenter(s) will be presenting |
In-Person / |
Abstract
Palash Kamruzzaman, the University of South Wales, UK
Bulbul Siddiqi, North South University, Bangladesh
mohammad.siddiqi@northsouth.edu
The host community of Cox’s Bazar had a sympathised attitude towards the Rohingya refugees during the mass exodus in Bangladesh in 2017. The Rohingya, a persecuted community who were the victims of ‘ethnic cleansing’ in Myanmar, had to flee to Bangladesh to save their lives. Generosity and selflessness from the host community were deemed to be instrumental for Rohingyas in finding refuge in Bangladesh in 2017. The host population stood up with the national decision of the Government of Bangladesh to provide them with shelter and food. However, the situation has started to fade away as the repatriation of the Rohingya is yet to begin. It has already created frustration among the host community. The fear of tension and conflict is also rising in the region. Under this complicated situation, the paper aims to assess the challenges and dilemmas of hosting the Rohingya refugees from the host community perspective. It also raises the question to what extent the peaceful co-existence between the host community and Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh would be viable if there is no sign for a sustainable solution to the crisis. Based on the 40 in-depth interviews with members of the host communities and humanitarian actors, this paper explores the reasons for such attitudinal change towards the Rohingya refugees. We argue that a widening trust gap between the host community and Rohingya refugees has created significant dissatisfaction and tension. A sense of neglect, the influx of the Rohingya in the local labour market, increasing living costs, and land acquisition are the key reasons for dissatisfaction of the host community. Thus, a long-term strategy is required to ensure harmonious co-existence between the host communities and Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.
