Bangladesh scraps Rohingya return to Myanmar
546 views · Published 20 November 2018 · 0:45 · Indexed 28 October 2026
Channel: AP Archive · 2018 · News & Politics
(15 Nov 2018) Plans to start repatriating 700,000 Rohingya Muslims from Bangladesh to Myanmar on Thursday have been scrapped, after the head of Bangladesh's refugee commission said officials were unable to find anyone who wanted to return. The refugees "are not willing to go back now," according to Refugee Commissioner Abul Kalam. He said Bangladeshi officials couldn't force them to go, but would try to "motivate them so it happens." The announcement came after about 1,000 Rohingya demonstrated against returning to Myanmar, from where hundreds of thousands fled army-led violence last year. Bangladesh authorities had attempted to begin the repatriation of the Rohingya, despite calls from United Nations officials and human rights groups to hold off. According to a UN-brokered deal with Bangladesh and Myanmar, the Rohingya cannot be forced to return. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/9741bd06dea7dbeb60d7622079b8562e
