Staff Reporter:
Rohingya refugees, currently residing in various camps in the Cox’s Bazar area of Bangladesh, are being prepared for repatriation to their native country, Myanmar.
As part of the efforts, they organized a massive rally at Balukhali camp in Cox’s Bazar, during which Rohingya refugees took a fresh vow to expedite their smooth, dignified and immediate repatriation.
While addressing the rally, many leaders of the community said that the rally was organised to foster unity among the Rohingyas and to devise strategies aimed at expediting their repatriation process.
The community leaders also urged the persecuted Rohingya people to get united under an umbrella after being imbued with patriotism and love for their motherland.
“From now on, we will have to speak out holding our heads high as we have the right to raise our voices, we have a native country,” Rohingya leader Master Kamal said at the gathering adding that the rally will pave the path for them to return to Myanmar.
The Rohingya leaders also announced a five-point proposal during the rally including working together under a common platform. The educated Rohingya youths will work to encourage others to return to their homeland, while the leaders will maintain liaison with international organization to ensure their dignified repatriation.
More than 700,000 Rohingya refugees have arrived from Myanmar’s Rakhine State in Bangladesh since August 2017. At present, Bangladesh is hosting more than 12 lakh Rohingyas who fled from Myanmar in the face of persecution by the military ruler.
Since the largest influx of Rohingyas from Myanmar’s Rakhine State in August 2017, there have been three attempts to repatriate Rohingyas: once in 2018, once in 2019, and most recently in 2023 but all the attempts went in vain.
Recently, amid the ongoing conflict in Myanmar’s Rakhine state, there has been a renewed concern about potential Rohingya infiltration into Bangladesh.
Due to the escalating conflict in Myanmar, the probability of Rohingya repatriation occurring anytime has become increasingly prolonged.
