Rohingyas rally in Cox's Bazar, demanding repatriation

Rohingyas from 25 of the 34 refugee camps in Ukhia and Teknaf  gathered on Sunday demanding that they are repatriated to their homeland Myanmar.

The rally started at 8 am at the 23 camps of Ukhia and two in Teknaf following staging human chains and demonstration.

Chanting “Back to Home” slogan Rohingyas of all ages from every block of the refugee camps participated in the rally and requested the global communities to ensure their return to Myanmar.

They demanded that they should be recognized by their ethnic name Rohingya.

The other demands are early repatriation to their villages in Arakan state of Myanmar, implementation of all agreements made on Rohingya repatriation, Involving the Unidet States, the United Kingdom, the United Nations, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation,European Union, Bangladesh, NGOs and all  involved in the repatriation process, abolition of the Burma Citizenship Act of 1982, returning assets, and right to live.   

Rohingya leader Mohib Ullah, who was shot in the camp on September 29, 2021, led the general assembly held on August 25, 2019 with the same demands.

But this year there was no single organizer or leader mentioned in the leaflet of the assembly rather millions of persecuted Rohingyas were mentioned as the organizer.

Mohammad Hossain, head of camp-4 in Ukhia said,” We want a safe repatriation. Hopefully after this assembly our demands will be more valued by the international communities.”

“We are grateful to Bangladesh government for their humanitarian act of sheltering us but we want to return to our homeland with respect and honor,” said Koni Mong, president of Rohingya Youth Association.

Additional Police Super (ASP) of Armed Police Battalion Unit-8 (8APBN) Kamran Hossain said, “Peaceful demos were held across the camp and the Rohingyas were not interfered. We are working to maintain the peace at the camp.”

In 2017, Rohingyas were forced to leave their country and take refuge in Bangladesh after facing the most heinous ethnic cleansing campaign by the Myanmar Army.

Bangladesh and Myanmar signed a repatriation deal on November 23, 2017.

On January 16, 2018 Bangladesh and Myanmar inked a document on “Physical Arrangement”, which was supposed to facilitate the return of Rohingyas to their homeland.