August 25 this year marked the second anniversary of the Rohingyas’ arrival on Bangladesh soil after they had faced violent onslaughts by the Myanmarese military leading to their mass exodus. Today, Bangladesh officially accounts for nearly 740,000 Rohingya refugees in various camps though unofficial figures suggest the number may be a whopping one million.

Crucially, the Rohingyas do not seem to be in any mood to go back to Myanmar fearing persecution as also they feel more secure and comfortable in Bangladesh. Dealing with such a humongous number of refugees is not an easy task, and with a hardened and adamant stance adopted by Myanmar, Bangladesh finds itself struggling to come to terms with addressing the issue. In two years time since the Rohingyas arrived, there has been spiralling increase of crime, complicity of a large number of Rohingyas in drug and human trafficking syndicates, forging passports and visas and other offences. On August 22, a Jubo League leader, Omar Farooq was allegedly killed by Rohingya activists in Teknaf region of Cox’s Bazar district, where most refugees are housed.

There is a vertical divide between the local Bangladesh residents and Rohingyas with acrimony on both sides on the rise. An uneasy calm prevails and the tension could spark a major violent showdown anytime. Rohingyas are very happy that Myanmar is refusing to take them back as they seem determined to stay back in Bangladesh. On August 22, there was an attempt to repatriate one batch of Rohingyas to Myanmar but it failed. It led to largescale jubilation in Rohingya camps but the locals protested. Rohingyas have now also started demanding citizenship of Bangladesh and rights to work. Such demands, coupled with the visitors’ involvement in serious crimes, have put the Bangladesh establishment in a tight spot.

Law-enforcing authorities are forever engaged in implementing tighter controls as the ongoing Rohingya problem is being dealt with as a major law and order issue. As part of fresh measures, a new police force, meant exclusively to tackle crime by Rohingya has very recently been instituted. It is to be seen rather keenly if this 800-strong force will be able to deliver at all. Official statistics reveal that in the past two years, there were 43 murders committed involving the Rohingyas and 32 died due to interfactional gun fights. Continuing with their campaign to remain in Bangladesh, the Rohingyas are appropriating cyber space rather effectively in pursuit of their propaganda objective.

TV Insanyiat is a popular online channel being used by them to ventilate their grievances. One Sheikh Rizvi Ali, son of Zakir Ali, thought to be from the Hyderabad centre of Rohingya refugees was responsible for floating a video airing their plight. Contents of the video have irked the Bangladesh administration and the local populace. The video alleges that Bangladesh has been receiving huge donations from affluent countries for rehabilitation of the Rohingyas but it has failed to do anything good. The video alleges that Bangladeshis have changed their colours and attitude in the last two years. Worse still, the video which has gone viral has described Bangladeshi Muslims as worse than Indian Hindus, the Jews and even the Myanmarese armed forces.

Such allegations have incurred the wrath of the people evoking strong reactions. A sense of anger and hatred prevails. Yet another TV channel, Rohingya Vision is beaming acerbic propaganda vitiating tranquility and fostering further hatred. According to a recent statement by Bangladesh Information Minister, Dr Hasan Mahmood, Rohingyas have to accept the blame for their complicity in criminal activities. He also criticised a large number of foreign NGOs for encouraging the Rohingyas to stay back, turning a blind eye to their undesirable activities. The Rohingya matter is now drawing attention of all segments of Bangladesh society. In a recent TV show, ex-Ambassador Humayun Kabir opined that unless a congenial atmosphere is created within Myanmar, refugees cannot go back.

Another former Ambassador, Waliur Rahman, however, felt that Bangladesh, India and China should sit together for a brain-storming session to find solutions to the problem as the refugees needed to go back to Myanmar. With the mention of China in this context, it is imperative to recall Prime Minister Hasina’s most recent China visit ( July 1-5). Repatriation of Rohingyas was on top of her agenda and she tried prevailing on the Chinese leadership to convince the Myanmarese government to take back refugees. This was obviously done as China is considered very close to Myanmar and Bangladesh foreign office mandarins felt that use of China’s good offices could help. This, however, seems a distant prospect as China is unlikely to help solve the problem as it remains a staunch ally of Myanmar.

For the record, though, the Chinese Foreign Minister assured Hasina that he himself would visit Myanmar to convince them about the refugees’ repatriation. For Prime Minister Hasina, the Rohingya issue remains sensitive and though she has been trying to face it bravely, she wants them to go back as the problem seems to be getting out of control. It is also sensitive and a major irritant. She was further provoked by a statement made on June 13 by US Congressman and Chairman of the Sub Commitee on Asia Pacific of the Congress Bradley Sherman during a hearing on State Department’s budget, when he recommended Rakhine State of Myanmar be merged with Bangladesh.

This drew a strong protest from Hasina on 6 July. Crucially, the perils of radicalisation, rise in criminal offences etc. pose a real threat to Bangladesh’s security as intelligence agencies continue to battle the emerging menace emanating from the Rohingyas. Observing the second anniversary of their arrival in Bangladesh on August 25, around 2 lakh refugees in a show of strength participated in a rally shouting slogans in the name of Allah and demanding citizenship and other rights.

The main venue was Kutapolang Camp in Cox’s Bazar where children and hijab- wearing women in considerable numbers were also seen. There were also slogans like ‘ long live Rohingyas’. The writing is clear on the wall. Rohingyas have come to stay and any repatriation is a distant dream. They are there and they have already started flexing their muscle. It is assumed Bangladesh authorities are alive towards this development meriting serious attention.

(The writer is a retired IPS officer, a security analyst and a former diplomat in the Indian High Commission, Dhaka. The views expressed are personal)