Securitization of the Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh

Abstract

Several studies have highlighted the Rohingya refugees as a threat to the national security of Bangladesh, but very few studies have analyzed the process of securitization of the Rohingyas in the country. This paper examines the process of securitization by applying securitization theory and makes two key arguments. First, contrary to the studies which presented the securitization of Rohingyas in Bangladesh as a recent phenomenon, we argue that the securitization process began in the 1990s and widely expanded in the 2010s. Second, the securitization of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh has been done by employing both discursive (speech acts) and non-discursive securitizing practices. A qualitative investigation of official statements, policies, and available scholarly insights helps make sense of these arguments.