Refugee Problems in South Asia

This research article was submitted as a part of partial requirements of Master of Science (Geography). I did a supervised research on “Refugee Problems in South Asia”. It was one full unit course and assessment is by a thesis totaling 25,000 words. The main objectives of that study are to find out the nature of the refugee problems in South Asia. As such a number of objectives is identified as follows: find out the background and origin of refugees, the current status of refugees, factors leading to the refugee situation, and the repatriation and rehabilitation in South Asia. Data from two sources of secondary sources are used in that research: a) official census data, like UNCHR and other Government, published data, and b) individual research works and other relevant special reports. All maps and figures are produced from published data. In order to get a piece of practical knowledge, two field visits are made in the Rohingya (Burmese) refugees in Bangladesh during research. The study reveals that South Asia is massive in its area and population, prominent in its geographical position, and overwhelming in its problems. Every fifth person in the World calls South Asia home, but the vast majority living in an endless struggle for survival on the fringes of subsistence. In such a situation, four different countries provide asylum to refugees in South Asia. Moreover, host countries are beset by severe economic problems, including decreasing agricultural production, stalled industrialization, and rising foreign debt burdens. So, the refugee problem is becoming an increasingly vital and acute problem for the South Asian countries like Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan. There were 13 percent of total refugees in South Asia like Afghan refugees in Pakistan, Tamil refugees in India, Tibetan refugees in India and Nepal, Nepal origin Bhutanese refugees in Nepal, Rohingya (Burmese) refugees in Bangladesh, Tribal (Bangladeshi) refugees in India. Besides, some undecided refugees exist in South Asia and a new group called Environmental refugees have existed in South Asia in large volume. Since independence from the British Rule, the South Asian countries have been vulnerable to ethnic tensions arising out of the colonial policy of ‘divide and rule’ accentuated by the controversial demarcation of boundaries by the British on the eve of their departure. New ethnic tensions also emerged because of the migration of ethnic groups that have continued for decades from one territory to another in search of better economic opportunities and shelter. The process of accommodation and assimilation of the migrants with the local people has been most often very complex and leads to various tensions. The cross-border ramification of these tensions tended to encourage external interference in the affairs of the concerned states, thus leading to the deterioration of mutual relations. New refugees may evolve through these conditions and several potential refugee situations may be identified. It is anticipated that the Ethnic problem in South Asian countries are the main cause behind refugee creation. Ethnic problems in these countries evolve mainly from the misunderstanding and mistrust between the nation-state and the ethnic groups living in it. Such misunderstanding originates when an ethnic group suffers from an identity crisis and lack of group awareness. An ethnic crisis is also defined as a product of long-standing socio-cultural, economic, political as well as administrative grievances. Grievances multiply and crisis accentuates if the national states maintain a non-accommodative approach towards the ethnic minority groups. An attempt by concerned countries to minimize ethnic and religious crisis may reduce the chances of creating potential refugee problems.  I gave given the particulars of my study, which was completed in 1994.  

Name of Degree              : Master of Science (Geography)

Name of University         : Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Nature of Study                : Supervised Research, 1 Full Unit Course

Name of Supervisor        : Professor K. Maodood Elahi, Ph.D 

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