The Protracted Rohingya Crisis: Not Just Bangladesh’s Burden, but a Humanitarian and Security Challenge for the Entire Region

The Protracted Rohingya Crisis: Not Just Bangladesh’s Burden, but a Humanitarian and Security Challenge for the Entire Region

The Rohingya crisis is no longer a temporary humanitarian problem. It has evolved into a long-term regional crisis. For nearly nine years, Bangladesh has been sheltering more than one and a half million Rohingya refugees. The refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar have become one of the most densely populated refugee settlements in the world. However, this burden does not belong to Bangladesh alone—it is a major humanitarian and security challenge for the whole of South and Southeast Asia.

The situation in Myanmar’s Rakhine State has become even more complex. The Arakan Army (AA) now controls most parts of Rakhine, including the border with Bangladesh. There has been no tangible progress in creating conditions conducive to repatriation. Instead, renewed conflict and violence continue. As a result, frustration among the Rohingya living in the camps is growing. Clashes among armed groups, smuggling, drug trafficking, and the risk of extremist linkages are becoming increasingly evident. This is not merely a matter of Bangladesh’s internal security—the potential impact could extend across borders to India’s northeastern states, Thailand, and Malaysia.

There are also significant gaps in regional cooperation. Forums such as BIMSTEC and ASEAN have often tended to avoid the Rohingya issue by treating it as a political matter. Yet this crisis has direct implications for regional stability. Both China and India have strategic interests in Rakhine. However, their role in exerting effective pressure regarding the Rohingyas’ citizenship, security, and repatriation has remained limited. As a result, Bangladesh continues to shoulder the burden alone—economically, environmentally, socially, and from a security perspective.

International funding is also steadily declining. The funding requirements of the Joint Response Plan are not being met. As food, healthcare, and protection services in the camps are reduced, the humanitarian situation is becoming increasingly fragile. Pressure on host communities is intensifying. Bangladesh has taken measures such as constructing border fencing and strengthening surveillance, but without addressing the root causes of the crisis, these measures can only provide temporary relief.

The root of this crisis lies in Myanmar’s political and structural failures. The Rohingya have been systematically rendered stateless. Making repatriation possible now requires not only engagement with Myanmar’s military authorities but also pragmatic dialogue with the de facto authorities controlling Rakhine. At the same time, regional countries must recognize this crisis as a matter of their own security interests.

Bangladesh has fulfilled its humanitarian responsibility for years. However, without a durable solution, this crisis will destabilize not only Bangladesh but the entire region. The time has come to acknowledge this reality and adopt a coordinated regional diplomatic and security strategy.