DHAKA, May 25, 2025 (BSS) - In a rare and cautious development, at least 82 
Rohingyas reportedly returned spontaneously to Myanmar's Rakhine state last 
week, in what appears to be the first known instance of voluntary 
repatriation since the mass exodus of 2017, according to the United Nations 
High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
 
The individuals, some of whom had fled forced recruitment efforts last year, 
cited hopes of restarting their businesses and reclaiming farmland as the 
main motivations behind the return, the UNHCR said in its latest report on 
the humanitarian cross-border situation in northern Rakhine and Cox's Bazar 
from May 12 to 18.
 
The development has prompted careful optimism in Bangladesh, which has long 
maintained that repatriation of over one million forcibly displaced Myanmar 
nationals (FDMNs) must be safe, voluntary, and dignified under international 
standards.

According to the UNHCR report, an additional 30 to 40 Rohingyas are expected 
to return to Maungdaw in the coming days, expressing hope that the Arakan 
Army (AA), the powerful ethnic armed group that now controls much of Rakhine 
state, would provide some form of documentation or assurances.

While no coercion has been reported so far, the UNHCR noted that the 
situation remains ambiguous as "it is unclear what assurances, if any, the AA 
has provided to the returnees."

The Arakan Army, which has emerged as a de facto authority in parts of 
Rakhine following Myanmar's civil unrest, is reportedly accepting bribes to 
allow returns and are questioning returnees about conditions in Cox's Bazar 
camps and activities of organised groups, said the report.
 
Bangladesh, which currently hosts more than 1.2 million Rohingyas, has 
repeatedly urged the international community to put pressure on Myanmar to 
create conditions conducive to repatriation, including citizenship guarantees 
and protection from persecution.

Meanwhile, the humanitarian outlook for Rohingya refugees remains grim.
The UNHCR reiterated its call for international solidarity and renewed 
support for countries in the region that continue to host Rohingya 
populations.

Until the security situation in Rakhine is conducive for voluntary and safe 
return, the international community must continue supporting critical 
humanitarian operations, the UN agency said.

UNHCR has appealed for 383.1 million US dollars for 2025 to support Rohingyas 
and host communities in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and 
Myanmar.
 
As of mid-May, only 30 percent of the funding target has been met, the report 
added.