Photos: Rohingya refugees rally nine years after Myanmar exodus | Rohingya News
Rohingya Refugees Protest Dire Conditions on Ninth Anniversary of Exodus
Tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh’s overcrowded camps held protests on Tuesday, marking nine years since a military crackdown in Myanmar forced them to flee. The refugees, who currently number over 1.2 million, are mainly housed in 30 camps in Cox’s Bazar, which constitute the world’s largest refugee settlement.
The demonstrators called on the international community to ensure security in Myanmar’s Rakhine state and to facilitate their safe return home. They observed what they referred to as the “ninth anniversary of Rohingya Genocide Day,” underlining their plight and ongoing humanitarian crisis.
The United Council of Rohingya (UCR), which organized the rally, emphasized the need to remember the atrocities committed against their community. Most refugees arrived in Bangladesh in 2017 during a mass exodus spurred by a military crackdown in Rakhine, following an attack by an armed group.
While the Bangladeshi government has previously attempted to initiate repatriation for the refugees, those efforts have stalled, as many individuals expressed concerns about returning to Myanmar due to ongoing security issues. Authorities in Dhaka have stated they will not force refugees to return against their will.
Earlier this month, Myanmar’s military government estimated that over 300,000 individuals in Bangladesh are former residents of Rakhine and indicated a willingness to accept their return, contingent upon improved security conditions. However, the Bangladeshi government has contested this figure and criticized Myanmar’s refusal to acknowledge the term “Rohingya,” favoring instead the designation “Bengali,” which many see as an attempt to undermine the identity of the displaced population.
