Fallout of the Rohingya Issue on Bangladesh`s Domestic Politics | Institute for Defence Studies...

"The presence of the huge Rohingya refugee population in Bangladesh is fraught with other consequences as well. There is disquiet within the government as well as among a substantial segment of civil society about the vulnerability of the destitute Rohingyas to the attractions offered by terrorist groups. There is concern about the risk of such groups merging with the local population and posing threats to local communities in the districts sheltering the refugees. The possibility of extremist communal elements, foreign terror groups and the some of the subverted Rohingyas aligning with the anti-Awami League political parties, to the detriment of peace and stability in the run-up to the 2018 general elections, also cannot be ruled out.

The Bangladesh military has been tasked to organize some of the relief infrastructure for the Rohingya refugees in the affected districts. The objective is to erect more than 14,000 refugee shelters in Cox`s Bazaar, temporarily rehabilitate the refugees and separate them from the local population as well as harmful political and anti-social elements, and obviate local tension and repercussions. The military’s involvement is intended to supplement the efforts of the civil machinery on relief administration as well as monitor the refugees and the environment from the perspectives of internal security and counter-terrorism. This use of the military has not been criticized by any of the political parties till now."