Nationality & facilitated naturalization

Despite statutory provisions allowing foreign nationals to acquire Bangladeshi citizenship, in practice, Rohingya refugees cannot become citizens through naturalization due to government-imposed restrictions. The Government of Bangladesh's position is that Rohingya refugees are permitted entry on humanitarian grounds and temporarily, rendering discussions on their naturalization and citizenship eligibility irrelevant.

The Citizenship Act of 1951 outlines various pathways to citizenship by birth, descent, migration, and marriage. However, these pathways are not accessible to Rohingya refugees. Children born in Bangladesh to Rohingya fathers cannot acquire citizenship by birth, and those born to Bangladeshi fathers and Rohingya mothers face barriers to formal birth registration and civil documentation. Citizenship by descent is complicated by restrictions on the registration of mixed marriages and formal birth registration of children born out of mixed marriages. Citizenship by migration is not applicable due to the [lack of a] legal status of Rohingya refugees. Additionally, although Section 10(2) of the Citizenship Act allows foreign women married to Bangladeshi men to apply for citizenship, this is not feasible for Rohingya women due to restrictions on formally registering such marriages.

The Government has issued several administrative circulars that prohibit the registration of marriages between Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi citizens, further complicating their access to Bangladeshi citizenship. These restrictions conflict with Bangladesh’s Muslim Marriages and Divorces Registration Act, which mandates compulsory registration of Muslim marriages, and contradict constitutional guarantees of equality before the law.

In terms of social cohesion, the influx of Rohingya refugees in 2017 has placed socio-economic pressure on host communities in Cox’s Bazar District, one of Bangladesh’s poorest districts. This has led to increased competition for resources and livelihood opportunities, causing friction between refugees and Bangladeshi host communities. While humanitarian operations have created some economic benefits for local vendors and job opportunities, poorer locals are adversely affected by wage depression, price inflation, environmental degradation, and strained public services. Efforts to improve conditions in Cox’s Bazar District include a development plan initiated by the Deputy Commissioner’s office with technical support from the United Nations and the World Bank. The Cox’s Bazar Development Authority, established by a 2016 Act of Parliament, aims to enhance infrastructure and services in the district. However, the Act predates the Rohingya refugee influx and does not formally integrate the presence of Rohingya refugees.

The Government welcomes the international support to the host community which has been impacted by the influx and protracted presence of a large refugee population. Through annual joint response plans, the Government and humanitarian partners have been working to foster well-being of host communities and mitigate the multi-sectorial impact of the presence of a large refugee population.