The government has constituted a high-level National Action Plan Committee on the Rohingya crisis, signalling a shift towards a more security-oriented approach while continuing efforts to facilitate the safe and sustainable repatriation of displaced Myanmar nationals.
According to a government gazette published on Sunday, the committee will be chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and comprises senior officials from the military, police, intelligence agencies and key ministries.
The body has been tasked with preparing a comprehensive national action plan and coordinating measures related to security, law enforcement and repatriation.
The gazette was issued less than two weeks after the prime minister’s visit to Beijing, where the Rohingya issue featured prominently in discussions with Chinese leaders.
Security-heavy committee
The prime minister will chair the committee, while the Principal Staff Officer (PSO) of the Armed Forces Division will serve as chief coordinator. The director general of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) has been appointed as member-secretary.
Other members include the ministers of home and foreign affairs, advisers responsible for finance, planning and defence, the inspector general of police, and the directors general of the National Security Intelligence (NSI), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Bangladesh Coast Guard.
The DGFI will also provide secretarial and administrative support to the committee.
One notable omission is the foreign secretary, who has not been included in the committee. Although some observers believe the absence of the country’s top diplomat could raise coordination questions, others say the government is likely to establish separate mechanisms to ensure policy coherence.
National action plan
The committee has been entrusted with preparing a National Action Plan on Rohingya Issues within 90 days.
Its responsibilities include setting priorities related to repatriation, monitoring implementation, coordinating the work of ministries and agencies, and determining the responsibilities of law enforcement and other organisations involved in the process.
The committee has also been empowered to co-opt officials from the armed forces and other law enforcement agencies whenever necessary.
Security concerns
Analysts say the composition of the committee indicates that the government is placing greater emphasis on the security dimensions of the Rohingya crisis, although humanitarian considerations remain important.
They identify two broad areas of concern: domestic security and regional stability.
The primary domestic concern is preventing instability in Myanmar’s Rakhine State from spilling over into Bangladesh, particularly the greater Chattogram region. Security agencies are also monitoring risks of extremism inside the refugee camps, cross-border infiltration, arms and drug smuggling, and human trafficking.
Officials note that narcotics trafficking and illegal arms flows have become increasingly intertwined with the conflict in Myanmar, posing additional challenges for Bangladesh’s border security.
Strategic shift
Former principal staff officer of the Armed Forces Division Lt Gen (retd) Mahfuzur Rahman described the formation of the committee as a strategic move that demonstrates the government’s priority accorded to the Rohingya issue.
“The committee reflects that the government has attached top priority to the Rohingya crisis,” he told TIMES of Bangladesh.
While acknowledging that the body is security agencies heavy, he said the composition should be viewed in the context of Myanmar’s military-centred political structure as well as their strategic culture.
“The appointment of the Principal Staff Officer as chief coordinator will improve coordination among government agencies. On many occasions, actors from Myanmar side were unsure whom to engage with. This arrangement should remove that ambiguity,” he said.
Mahfuzur Rahman, however, argued that economic considerations should also become part of Bangladesh’s long-term strategy.
He said improving livelihoods and economic opportunities in Myanmar’s Rakhine State would increase the prospects for the voluntary and sustainable return of Rohingya refugees.
“If the economic condition improves in Rakhine, the chances of resolving the crisis will be much greater,” he said, adding that greater involvement of the finance and commerce ministries would strengthen the government’s overall approach.
He also added that inclusion of some members from civil society and academia who are involved with Rohingya crisis studies could add inclusive dimensions to government efforts.
New approach
The new committee reflects an evolution in Bangladesh’s management of the Rohingya crisis. While previous efforts combined humanitarian assistance with diplomatic engagement, the latest institutional arrangement places greater emphasis on national security, coordination and state capacity.
Analysts say that, given the deteriorating security situation in Myanmar and the prolonged nature of the refugee crisis, such an approach is understandable. However, they caution that durable repatriation will ultimately require sustained diplomacy, improved conditions in Rakhine and continued international engagement alongside enhanced security measures.
