Rohingya Crisis and Its Impacts on Bangladesh: The Quest for Safe, Voluntary, and Dignified Repatriation

The Rohingya crisis, which stems from Myanmar's systematic persecution and denial of citizenship to the Rohingya minority under the 1982 Citizenship Act, has emerged as one of the world's most important humanitarian issues. Since the mass exodus in 2017, Bangladesh has accommodated more than a million displaced Rohingyas, predominantly in Cox's Bazar, making it the world's biggest refugee camp. While Bangladesh has provided outstanding humanitarian assistance despite not being a member of the 1951 Refugee Convention, the prolonged flux of migrants has presented significant socioeconomic, environmental, and security concerns to the host country. Geopolitical factors have exacerbated the problem, with regional countries such as China, India, and Russia prioritizing strategic interests over humanitarian concerns, impeding long-term resolution. This study investigates whether safe, voluntary, and dignified return can provide a lasting solution to the issue. It critically examines why alternative strategies like local integration and third-country relocation are still impractical for Bangladesh due to demographic, political, and resource restrictions. The paper additionally examines the role of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Gambia v. Myanmar case, demonstrating both its potential and limits in imposing international responsibility. This research further demonstrates that although repatriation is the best long-term option, there are a number of barriers to it, such as Myanmar's resistance, continuous political unrest, and the absence of security assurances for those who return. The article ends by outlining all-encompassing diplomatic, legal, and humanitarian approaches to guarantee a long-term resolution that strikes a balance between Bangladesh's national interests and the safeguarding of Rohingya rights.