Rohingya Repatriation: An Elusive or Achievable Agenda?

This volume provides a comprehensive analysis of the Rohingya refugee crisis, examining it as a critical ‘time bomb’ with implications extending far beyond Bangladesh to affect South Asia and the global community. The book explores the core conceptual issues and practical challenges surrounding the repatriation of stateless people, tracing how the seeds of contemporary atrocities were planted through the denationalization of the Rohingya in 1982. Through detailed examination of legal frameworks, diplomatic pressures, and stakeholder responsibilities, the volume argues that safe and dignified repatriation must be fundamental prerequisites for any viable solution. The analysis extends beyond the immediate crisis to consider broader implications for how authoritarian and majoritarian regimes might employ similar tactics in other contexts, making this a crucial study for understanding patterns of state-sponsored displacement and statelessness. The volume will be of great interest to scholars and researchers of Asian studies, international relations, refugee studies, human rights law, and peace and conflict studies. It will also appeal to students and academics working in political science, journalism, history, and philosophy, particularly those focused on statelessness, forced migration, and humanitarian crises.

Mahbubur Rahman is Professor of Political Science and Chair of the Department of History and Philosophy at North South University (NSU). He was Founding Director of the Liberation War Research Center at NSU. Prior to joining NSU, he taught at York College of the City University of New York (CUNY) and Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh, and worked as a Research Associate at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS). Rahman’s research and teaching interests focus on Electoral Governance, Democratization, Refugee Repatriation, Responsibility to Protect (R2P), Islamic Activism, and Countering Violent Extremism (CVE). He has authored/edited many publications, including journal articles, books, book chapters, and encyclopedia entries with reputed international publishers. He serves as a country expert (Bangladesh) for the Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Institute, Sweden, and sits on the editorial board of several journals. He received several scholarships/fellowships, including the J. William Fulbright Scholarship.

Abdur Rob Khan is Treasurer of North South University (NSU). Previously, he served as Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences (SHSS) at NSU for seven years. Before joining North South University as a faculty member in 2009, Dr Khan spent 15 years as Research Director at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS), a think tank under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. With a graduation in Economics from the University of Dhaka, Dr Khan earned his Ph.D. in International Relations from the University of Kent at Canterbury in 1994, specializing in Conflict Studies. He did post-doctoral work in South Asian politics at UPenn as a Senior Fulbright Fellow in 2007. His book-length works include Globalization and South Asian Security, Human Security in South Asia, and the Human Security Index for South Asia. Dr Khan has widely participated in seminars and conferences across Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

Md. Rizwanul Islam is Professor of Law and Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at North South University. He has earned his Bachelor of Laws from the University of Dhaka, Master of Laws from the National University of Singapore, and his Doctoral degree from Macquarie University. He has earned several awards for his research work. Rizwan has worked as a consultant or fellow in projects funded by the International Labour Organization, the United Nations Development Programme, and the World Bank. Rizwan sits on the editorial board of several journals.