On the sixth anniversary of their massive departure, hundreds of Rohingya refugees conducted protests in various camps in this area, calling for a safe return to their ancestral Myanmar.
“We don’t want to stay in Bangladesh any long. Our only demand is to quick return to our homeland Myanmar,” said Musa, a representative of Rohingyas at a camp.
Since August 25 of that year, over 1.1 million Rohingyas have been forcibly displaced to Bangladesh, mostly after Myanmar’s military crackdown, which the UN has referred to as a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing” and other rights organizations have called “genocide.”
“We stand here today as survivors, witnesses, and victims of genocide. Six years have passed since that tragic day and yet the pursuit of justice from the international community remains elusive,” Musa said.
Nearly 25,000 Rohingyas joined dozens of rallies with the biggest one held in Kutupalong camp with around 10,000 Rohingyas amid heavy rains.
“Till now no UN organization or international community has taken any credible steps for repatriation rather nowadays a vested quarter started suggesting us to stay in Bangladesh,” Musa claimed.
He said this is inhuman for Rohingyas to live away from their motherland.
Rohingyas gratefully acknowledge the remarkable humanitarian assistance provided by Bangladesh government, specially Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
“We are not just victims, we are survivors repeatedly asking them to ensure accountability,” said Sayeeda, one of thousands Rohinyas those were in exodus in Cox’s Bazar six years back.
“Justice has been delayed, justice has been denied,” Sayeeda said in a choked voice.
At the rally, the Rohingyas placed five- pint demands :
“1. Returning of Rohingyas must be to original lived homeland area of Myanmar’s Arakan Rakhine. 2. Assurances of safety, security, and dignity, all within the upcoming summer. 3. Restored Myanmar citizenship with full citizenship rights like other 135 ethnic groups of Myanmar.
Draw the attention of international community and UN organization to take positive step on repatriation.”
Not a single Rohingya has returned home in the past six years.
Although Myanmar agreed to take them back, multiple attempts at repatriation were unsuccessful because the Rohingya community lacked confidence in Rakhine state’s ability to protect them.
