Bangladesh's plan to create a "safe zone" inside the North Rakhine state for the Rohingya appears to be uncertain as both Myanmar and UN experts oppose the idea.
"Myanmar government always rules out categorically the proposals to establish safe zone inside Myanmar's territory," the Myanmar Embassy in Dhaka said recently.
Myanmar's position was disclosed on the heels of media reports that regional powers such as China and India had informal endorsements to the Safe Zone proposal.
When asked about the issue foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen told the FE that Bangladesh was discussing the idea with a number of countries.
"We have discussed it informally. We have not made any formal communications," the minister said adding that he believed this can be worked out.
"Even during the recent OIC meeting in Abu Dhabi, I have discussed the plan with many envoys and they have responded positively."
The Prime Minister introduced the idea first and "I believe that this would help resolve the Rohingya crisis", Dr Momen said.
According to him, friendly neighbouring countries like China and others will act as observers to ensure safe repatriation of the Rohingya to the proposed zone.
"If Myanmar is not agreeable to the proposal, then let them say how they would ensure the safe return of the Rohingya. Our point is very clear Myanmar has to take back their citizens immediately," the minister said. "We cannot keep them here on a long term basis."
Meanwhile, UN Special Rapporteur on Myanmar Yanghee Lee opposed the idea of such a zone.
"Bangladesh, which said it could not take any more Rohingya refugees, has proposed setting up 'safe zones' inside Rakhine, but the very "need for 'safe zones' undermines the safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable nature of repatriation," the UN expert on Myanmar said in a report submitted on Tuesday.
Also, "confining returnees to 'safe zones' could result in their being more vulnerable, would further constrain their freedom of movement and would segregate them from other communities," she said in the report.
Myanmar and Bangladesh have signed an agreement to repatriate more than 730,000 Rohingya who fled the military's campaign of mass killings and rape in western Rakhine State, but "conditions for voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable returns do not exist," Lee said.
According to the report, the Rohingya were continuing to leave Rakhine for Bangladesh with newly-arrived refugees reporting the recent acts of violence against them and their family members.
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