by Sabrina Khan (Dhaka Bureau)
Civil society in Bangladesh has sharply criticized the UN-led Joint Response Plan (JRP) for managing the Rohingya refugee crisis, terming it a ‘UN-dependent fundraising framework.’ At a joint press conference held on Monday (May 18) at the National Press Club, the Cox’s Bazar CSO NGO Forum (CCNF) and EquityBD demanded a transparent localization process and a permanent repatriation roadmap to resolve the crisis.
Civil society representatives warned that the absolute control over funds by international agencies is marginalizing local NGOs and prolonging the permanent political solution to the crisis- namely, the repatriation process.
Disproportionate Fund Distribution: Local NGOs Receive Less Than 1%
While presenting the keynote paper at the press conference, Md. Shahinur Islam highlighted a staggering disparity in funding. Citing last year’s JRP as an example, he stated that 87% of the total $934.5 million was controlled by UN agencies. International NGOs received 9%, whereas local NGOs, who do the bulk of the fieldwork on the ground, received less than 1% of the funds.
Speakers demanded that at least 25% of the JRP funds must be spent directly through local NGOs and for the welfare of the affected local population. To ensure financial transparency, they called for making it mandatory in the JRP to outline a clear breakdown of how much money each agency is spending.
Government Loans and Undervalued Contributions
The press conference alleged that the Government of Bangladesh is managing this massive humanitarian crisis by taking loans from banks and spending its own resources. However, the current JRP framework does not reflect this immense financial contribution from the government. Instead, it has primarily become a document for international agencies to run their own operations.
Criticism of the UN and the ‘Permanent Housing’ Controversy
Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Chief Moderator of EquityBD, fiercely criticized the activities of the UNHCR. He alleged that the UN agency is bypassing local NGOs and conducting camp operations through large international NGOs.
The most serious allegation concerned the construction of ‘permanent housing’ in the camps. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury stated- ‘The UN is constructing permanent housing in the Rohingya camps without consulting the government, the forest department, or the local community. In many countries like Nepal, the UN cannot undertake any work without government permission, but in Bangladesh, they are disregarding national sovereignty and local interests.’
Permanent Solution: Repatriation Roadmap and Parliamentary Debate
To achieve a sustainable and permanent solution to the Rohingya crisis, civil society put forward three specific political demands:
1. Parliamentary Debate: The Rohingya crisis is no longer just a humanitarian issue; it has become a major political and security concern for Bangladesh. Therefore, a formal debate in the National Parliament regarding the resolution of this crisis has been demanded.
2. Formation of a Repatriation Commission: The elected democratic government must directly take charge of the repatriation process and form a powerful ‘Rohingya Repatriation Commission.’
3. International Conference at the UN: A proposal was made to call for a special session at the upcoming UN General Assembly to ensure justice for the genocide committed against the Rohingyas and to secure their safe repatriation. The primary objective of this session would be to formulate a definitive ‘Repatriation Roadmap.’
Pressenza’s Perspective: The Conflict Between Sovereignty and Humanitarianism
The Rohingya crisis is about to enter its seventh year. Pressenza believes that marginalizing local capacity under the guise of humanitarian aid and keeping a victimized population of ethnic cleansing permanently dependent is not a solution. The demands of Bangladeshi civil society represent a strong protest against global humanitarian bossism or ‘humanitarian imperialism.’ A safe and dignified repatriation is the only way forward, which currently remains frozen due to the apathy of the international community.
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The Author:
Sabrina Khan: Staff Correspondent, Pressenza- Dhaka Bureau
