There is a practical need for a budgetary allocation for the Rohingyas taken shelter in Bangladesh. However, this allocation should be aligned to the objective of Rohingyas’ ultimate repatriation to Myanmar. It is also important that such allocation will in no case dilute the effort of serving the needs of those who are marginalised in Bangladesh. These core recommendations came up from a citizens’ dialogue in Chattogram, where the economic implications of the Rohingya crisis was discussed in the line of the national budget for 2018-2019. The dialogue based on a CPD study, “Economic Implications of the Rohingya Crisis for Bangladesh and National Budget FY2019” presented by Dr Fahmida Khatun, Executive Director, CPD.
The presentation and subsequent discussion were held at Kakoli Hall, Hotel Saint Martin, Chattogram on 13 May 2018. The event organised by the CPD and Sachetan Nagaric Committee (SANAC) – Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), was chaired by Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, Distinguished Fellow, CPD and the Convenor of Citizen’s Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh. Professor Emeritus Dr Alamgir Mohammad Sirajuddin, Major (retd.) Emdadul Islam, former Head of Mission of Bangladesh in Myanmar, Professor Dr Pravat Chandra Barua, Vice Chancellor, University of Science and Technology Chittagong (USTC) spoke as Guests of Honour at the dialogue. Advocate Akhtar Kabir Chowdhury, President, SANAC-TIB, Chattogram, delivered the welcome speech.
Overview of the study
Experts and citizens at the dialogue discussed the Rohingya crisis from a wider perspective covering social, political, health and nutrition, and environmental issues. The security and safety of the women and children were especially emphasised. The strength and efficacy of the ongoing diplomacy were questioned, while the idea of assimilating the Rohingyas in the society was rejected by many. The potential of using Rohingyas as a work-force by setting up a Special Economic Zones (SEZ) for Rohingyas was also proposed and debated. The need for ensuring proper security measures to deal with the illegal trafficking and other harassments were particularly emphasised at the dialogue.
Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, as the Chair of the dialogue, concluded by stressing that the budget should not give any signal contradicting the objective of Rohingya repatriation to their own country.
Academicians, development practitioners, political leader, business leader, journalists and others contributed to the discussion through their participation.
Online Outreach
