r/bangladesh • u/Particular_Eagle_972 • Jun 19 '26
Policy/কর্মপন্থা Do the Bangladeshi people accept Rohingyans? The Malaysians have been deeply unhappy with the Rohingyan refugees and would like to repatriate them back to Bangladesh (apparently their ethnic land before they were brought to Myanmar)
Its been a viral, hot topic in Malaysia. The Malaysian public are fed up and unhappy with the 180,000+ Rohingyan refugees and would like to ship them to back to their ethnic land, Bangladesh or Myanmar.
Some are saying the government and religious bodies are willing to pay relocation fees, and fees for their livelihood during this transition.
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u/Appropriate-Set-304 Jun 19 '26
Looking at your previous posts, you seem to have a bias OP
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u/biskitpagla Jun 19 '26
I won't be surprised if OP's ancestors turn out to not be native to Malaysia.
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u/Particular_Eagle_972 Jun 19 '26
My great-great-great grandmother is from China! Lol. The rest are from Malaysia.
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u/Particular_Eagle_972 Jun 19 '26
Yes its tearing Malaysians apart. I do not enjoy Malaysians fighting over it and would like to find practical solutions
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u/Tasty-Address-1264 Jun 19 '26
Well that's gonna be hard to do. I live in malaysia so I'm into a lot of stuff posted online and I saw the vid of a guy chasing a rohingya child. Yeah maybe you don't like them around but son why r we chasing a child and scaring them for funsies? And then posting about it online.
Honestly I think alot has to do w/ racism as well as much as it has to do with work related issues
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u/Particular_Eagle_972 Jun 19 '26
Its gotten terrible, I fear for the poor child. Its best to keep them away from Malaysians.
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u/Useful-Extreme-4053 বিপ্লবী 🚩 Jun 19 '26
Are you Malaysian?
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u/Particular_Eagle_972 Jun 19 '26
Yes
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u/Useful-Extreme-4053 বিপ্লবী 🚩 Jun 19 '26
I am Bangladeshi and I don't want them in my country. I don't like Bangladeshis fighting over it.
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u/score_pi-ONE Jun 19 '26
Rohingyas are from arakan, that is not Bangladesh
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u/AnalConnoisseur69 Jun 19 '26
It's more complex than that. They were taken there by the British more than a hundred years ago for agriculture and forestry. The modern concept of countries and borders literally did not exist as we know them right now all that time ago. So of course, you didn't need a visa or passport or documentation to go there. The British just took them there, because Burma was also a British colony, part of the overarching British Raj.
As a result, when the countries of East Pakistan (back then) and Burma were eventually formed, during the formation of the countries, they were living there for generations already. And continued to live there for more generations. Modern ideas about census and administrative infrastructure was also not as we know now.
Ethnically, they are originally not from Myanmar. But geographically at the inception of Burma as a country, they are from there. It's complex. There are many different ethnicities all over the world that suffer this issue (e.g. Kurds in the Middle East). But as usual, you can once again point the finger at the British for this mess in South Asia.
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u/Double-Journalist877 Jun 20 '26
That's such a bizzare take, by that logic much of South East Asian people would have to start moving. Is this just rhetoric to justify sending people to Bangladesh?
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u/AnalConnoisseur69 Jun 20 '26
I never even said that we are obligated to or should take them, lol. In fact, I personally believe that Bangladesh should never have taken them in the first place, as "cruel" as it may sound to people.
Sheikh Hasina opened a can of the ugliest worms by accepting them into the country in the first place. Maybe she wanted the Nobel Peace Prize. Maybe she wanted foreign aid money to be funneled into Bangladesh so that the administration could get their grubby hands on that money. I don't know.
I was just putting the history into context to explain why - to many people - it may seem like a complex situation and why some people support them being accepted into Bangladesh, be it local or foreigner. If Bangladesh never agreed to take them, the UN would've been forced to find an alternative. But since our government decided to accept them, they were ghettoized in already the most overpopulated country in the world.
Again, I was putting history into context. I don't agree taking them at all.
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u/score_pi-ONE Jun 20 '26
the 1.5 millon rohingyas who are currently in Bangladesh came from Arakan province of Myanmar, end of discussion
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u/AnalConnoisseur69 Jun 20 '26
I did not deny that. I literally said that geographically at the inception of Burma as a country, they are from there.
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u/winter32842 Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26
Short answer is no. Rohingya’s native land is Myanmar (not Bangladesh).
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u/__wtfisgoingon Jun 19 '26
I thought Malaysia is financially and systematically better off than Bangladesh. We have huge population issues too which with the right wingers on the rise isn’t going to get better anytime soon. So we can’t turn refugees into workers when we have to send our own people to Middle East countries as cheap labourers.
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u/Particular_Eagle_972 Jun 19 '26
Fair enough, makes sense.
Yes I believe Malaysia has greater reserves and is technically more well-equipped to handle this, but the government hasn’t developed a clear plan.
Since the issue has been blowing up on social media, I thought it would be interesting to speak to Bangladeshis and Myanmar people on Reddit for this. The great sentiment is to repatriate them to Myanmar and Bangladesh.
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u/__wtfisgoingon Jun 19 '26
I don’t understand how Bangladesh comes into the equation. We can’t provide our own people.
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u/SnooPeanuts4219 Jun 19 '26
Bangladesh does not like having 1.2 million extra people in the country. Rohingyas are rightful owner of their own land that the Myanmar army has been systematically trying to get them rid off and have committed genocide against them.
However, Bangladeshi people know - even if you are poor - you should still help the dying. That is what is happening in Bangladesh since the 1980s - Bangladesh government has accepted Rohingya refugees while the world has done fuck all to stop this genocide. Does the Bangladeshi people like it? Ofcourse not. But do we have a choice? Not really.
The conditions in Myanmar is a disastrous failure of the world and the UN. And it’s a shame we are even having the discussion of liking or disliking their people. Shameful.
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u/Particular_Eagle_972 Jun 19 '26
Understood. Thank you for taking time to reply. They say that many Rohingyan were brought to Myanmar from Bangladesh in the 18th century, during British rule.
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u/SnooPeanuts4219 Jun 19 '26
It is a false claim. The Rohingyas have had their kingdom in modern day Myanmar since the 14th century. I’m sure the British brought in plenty of people too - just how they brought in people into Bangladesh (look up tea plantation slavery). That does not mean you commit genocide upon a population. Heck, if you want to go back like that then parts of Myanmar should be Bangladeshi since a lot of it was vassal states of the then Bengal kingdoms.
When a modern sovereign nation is built you don’t make a border then expel the ones living there. You don’t look at old history and clean up the slate as you deem right. Can you imagine the chaos that would ensue? The Myanmar Buddhist claim is pathetic and racist and genocidal. Unfortunately, I repeat, the world has done fuck all
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u/Particular_Eagle_972 Jun 19 '26
Okay interesting, good to know. These are just what I read online, so I’m not really sure what the truth is.
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u/notNIHAL chittainga Jun 19 '26
These are mostly Burmese propaganda to justify their genocide against the rohingyas.
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u/SnooPeanuts4219 Jun 19 '26
Yeah. I read these online too - there are different parts of the internet. To know it all you should dig on both sides buddy
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u/Many-Birthday12345 Jun 19 '26
That’s completely false.
Imagine if another country(for example Japan) took over Malaysia but afterwards they say that all the Malaysians of Malaysia are actually Indonesian people and they should be “sent back” to Indonesia. That’s their illogical behavior to justify what their treatment of Rohingya.
The Rohingyas were their own kingdom. To simplify things, The Myanmar kingdom(Burma) invaded and made the Rohingya land(Arakan) part of their own country. Arakan land is literally inside of Myanmar border. They are native to it like Malay are to Malaysia.
As the Myanmar govt controls Arakan, Rohingya are from Myanmar. Just like Ainu people are considered as Japanese citizens or the Native American tribal people are American citizens.
If they don’t want the Rohingya people, they should allow independence. Just like how Singapore(people + land) got out of Malaysian federation in the 60s. So long as they want to control the land, they are responsible for the people.
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u/Particular_Eagle_972 Jun 19 '26
Okay good to know. The only note I read online were of the interconnectedness and commonalities of Arakan / Rakhine to Bangladesh through the Bay of Bengal region and that the Arakan kingdom (Rakhine) has been around since 14th-15th century.
The Rohingya share similar language to Chittagonian, a language from the South of Bangladesh.
During British colonisation, labour migration occurred and many from Bangladesh came and settled in Arakan kingdom.
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u/notNIHAL chittainga Jun 19 '26
It's because the idiot Britishers didn't give Arakan to then Pakistan when they left. They just drew a stupid fucking line on the map and that was it. Mind you, our leaders were fucking incompetent in negotiation as well. India came out on top all things considered.
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u/Useful-Extreme-4053 বিপ্লবী 🚩 Jun 20 '26
Why would British give arakan to Pakistan? Arakan is majority Buddhist and Arakanese people.
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u/South_Farm9491 Jun 20 '26
The mayu region should have been given to us but jinnah refused to meddle in burmese affairs
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u/jxx37 Jun 19 '26
Why are they unhappy with Rohingyas?
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u/Particular_Eagle_972 Jun 19 '26
Its complex. Malaysia doesnt recognise them as legal entries to Malaysia and they are unable to work. A few get stipend from foreign NGOs. It started from a few hundred and now theres 180,000 of them. They are unable to work. It creates all sorts of issues.
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u/Double-Journalist877 Jun 19 '26
And do you think that'll be solved if they moved to another place? Do you need money to integrate them so they can work? What's the solution here other than "not my problem"?
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u/Particular_Eagle_972 Jun 19 '26
The Malaysians are at odds on this, relfecting anti-immigrant movements that are happening across the globe.
One camp in Malaysia is completely anti-refugee, and wanting them to be repatriated as quickly as possible. These are the masses, that often live side-by-side with them, and have struggled to adapt with their culture and ways. Many in this camp do not want refugees to be taking up local jobs or costing local healthcare systems.
The other camp is fighting for the right of the refugees to work, to live, and to pay for their stay, such as any other citizen.
I sit squarely in the middle. I believe they should be given legal income pathways and protection in Malaysia, as well as the right to work and make a living - but I believe that the masses of Malaysians that are unhappy to live with them (due to integration and assimilation issues) have a right to feel unhappy. I have not walked in their shoes, therefore I do not know what their experiences are like adapting to a different culture. Therefore, if the masses believe so - they should ultimately they should be repatriated back to their homeland in the next decade or so. Wherever that homeland may be.
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u/jxx37 Jun 19 '26
Are you suggesting 180,000 Rohingyas moved to Malaysia illegally in boats or false passports? That seems like an insanely high number.
If you cannot work in a country it really does not work either for Malaysia or the Rohingyas. Very sad situation. They are like a human pass the pillow, no one wants them.
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u/Particular_Eagle_972 Jun 19 '26
Yes, illegal entries through boats and land borders.
Since this issue has gone viral, Malaysia will be taking a stronger stance and I don’t think they’d be as forgiving with newcomers.
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u/MbuemoCunhaSesko Jun 19 '26
We sympathise with them as they are genocide victims and no they are from Arakan not Bangladesh. The Buddhist extremists have spread that lie as a justification of their genocide. Bangladesh is a poor country and we still keep 1 million rohingya refugees, which is hard for us to do I think Malaysia and other countries should do better and take more in
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u/Particular_Eagle_972 Jun 19 '26
Fair enough. I wonder if Bangladesh allows them the right to work?
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u/Fancy_Chicken_1494 Jun 19 '26
Okay: Temporary civilian refugees fleeing immediate war to take shelter in a neighbor country as a means to survive imminent fatal persecution. This should be a human right if it isnt one already.
Not okay: Government taking up land to build thousands of houses for more than a million refugees on their 9th year stay, in an already small, unfed and overpopulated country.
Rohingya crisis is an international crisis that should be addressed by all nations, especially the powerful and privileged nations. It shouldn't be the sole responsibility of a poor small country like Bangladesh to have to take physical custody of millions of a foreign ethnic group forever where other nations decide to chip in as they please. If the rich nations want to provide some real "humanitarian aid", then start by really engaging the crisis, or give them shelter in their less densely populated nations.
Our govt should at the very least discuss internationally the possibility of seriously training these refugee populations militarily and making them go back to fight for their land instead of accommodating them to such levels of integration. This sentiment is not uncommon among Bangladeshis. We would probably not be so frustrated with this if we werent a very small and cramped nation with an unstable economy.
But at the end of the day our frustrations cant get the better of us because if you are a Human, you just cannot watch a life bleed in the middle of the street and instead of helping them you just walk past it. This world is so evil that all the relief a people facing a literal genocide gets is the help of an illiterate shite hole like Bangladesh.
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u/Particular_Eagle_972 Jun 19 '26
Ok fair enough and well-noted.
It seems like Bangladeshis really do not feel connected to Rohingyas in any way, aside from just giving shelter and aid.
Seems contradictory to Burmese claims that they are from Bangladesh/Bengalis.
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u/freak5341 khati bangali 🇧🇩 খাঁটি বাঙালি Jun 19 '26
The rohingyas should not be affecting you so much that you'd wanna send them back to face horrible deaths(unless you are a politician or something). Countries only help other countries when they have something to gain(see how no one cares about gaza). Even though the Malaysian people wanna help Palestinians your government ain't taking them as refugees.
I've heard about crimes in the Bangladesh camps but that shouldn't be an issue in Malaysia where the laws are actually strict and properly enforced. Why are Malaysians so fed up with them that they would wanna ship em out?
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u/Particular_Eagle_972 Jun 19 '26
An alleged Rohingyan group claimed that Rohingyans deserved land rights in Malaysia and it caused a frenzy online. Suddenly all stories of Rohingyans misbehaving and committing crimes surfaced. Malaysians started blasting them, and reporters started having crackdowns on illegal sites.
It does not affect me so much personally but from the stories I have read online, many locals living close to them are having issues integrating with them - and typically these would be locals from more challenging socioeconomic classes.
They claim that people who do not have to live with them are out of touch, privileged, woke and liberal left wing, and predominantly English speaking or Westernised. Hence its a big issue.
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u/South_Farm9491 Jun 20 '26
exactly what happened in myanmar
fb post used to promote hate against the rohingyas
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u/Prior_Broccoli_7832 Jun 19 '26
Malaysians would dance for Palestine shaking ass but kick Rohingas
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u/Particular_Eagle_972 Jun 19 '26
Yup. The irony. The Malaysians were not prepared at all, and there wasnt a fully thought out plan to support the refugees or give them working pathways.
The refugees are understandably needing to survive and crime and begging started.
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u/DisastrousOven1595 Jun 19 '26
Rohingyas are not Bangladeshi, but I think some of them were given Bangladeshi passports during the first wave in the 90s.
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u/Particular_Eagle_972 Jun 20 '26
If you guys are interested have a read on what people from myanmar think
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u/Manarat_ Jun 19 '26
Ancestorial land of Rohingyas are in Arakan, Burma where their great grandparents are from. They're escaping ethnic cleansing. Your slight discomfort mount nothing to them being in a refegue camps with no future. The only thing that seperates from you and a Rohingya in refegue camp is the luck you weren’t born on the camp.
If you're unhappy about the conditions push your government and raise awareness against the ethnic cleansing of Rohiangyas and advocate for a long term solution so they can go back to their land instead of throwing a fit against unfortunate people.
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u/South_Farm9491 Jun 19 '26
No they're native to arakan and they deserve to live in there homeland peacefully
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u/hive_master Jun 19 '26
Bangladesh is hosting over a million rohingya refugees. Malaysia is way more developed country than Bangladesh and should be able to accomodate 180k.
If you don't like hosting them, ask your politicians to work with Bangladesh to find a solution so they can return back to their home in Myanmar.