Risk of institutionalisation of corruption in Rohingya crisis management: TIB
63.2 percent of the population in Cox's Bazar are Rohingyas and 34.8 percent are local Bangladeshi residents, leading to increased social risks
Due to the emergence of beneficiary groups at different levels, risk of institutionalisation of irregularities and corruption has arisen in Rohingya crisis management, said Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) on Thursday.
Revealing a study titled "Bangladesh's Stance on Forcibly Displaced Rohingyas: Challenges to Good Governance and Way Forward" at a press meet in Dhaka the watchdog said the Rohingya's humanitarian assistance management framework faces multi-faceted challenges in coordination, intercommunication and oversight.
"According to published information of different government sources, the government has already spent at least Tk2,308 crore to deal with the crisis. There are low chances of the continuation of international assistance and the disbursement of funds from such sources is falling compared to the need," Dr Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of Transparency International Bangladesh.
The Rohingya population's chance of staying longer in Bangladesh is getting stronger, he said, while pointing out that the government is not making any long-term plan.
"Data shows that economic, social and environmental risks for the local population have increased," Dr Iftekharuzzaman said.
According to the TIB research, 63.2 percent of the population in Cox's Bazar are Rohingyas and 34.8 percent are local Bangladeshi residents, leading to increased social risks.
TIB also wants transparency and accountability of the UN agencies in the management of the humanitarian crisis of Rohingyas.
"Humanitarian assistance activities are like a growing industry. The UN and the international community shut their eyes to the atrocities such as genocide and ethnic cleansing. But when the atrocities end, everyone seems to become logically active in the humanitarian aid program. The Rohingya crisis is no exception," said Dr Iftekharuzzaman.
The anti-corruption watchdog suggests thirteen ways to ensure transparency and accountability in coordination and management.
The research was conducted collecting data from different government offices and NGO's working in Cox's Bazar, during October 13-30 this year.
Bangladesh is currently hosting the largest number of stateless people in the world with about 906,000 people, according to the International Organization of Migration.
Bangladesh tried to repatriate the Rohingyas to Myanmar twice. However, both attempts – the first in November 2018 and the latest in August 2019 – failed.