Bangladesh Defense
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Rohingyas seek safe, dignified return
They observe ‘Genocide Day’ on 9th anniv of their exodus to Bangladesh
Tarekur Rahman . Cox’s Bazar 25 August, 2026, 10:47
Tens of thousands of Rohingyas gather to take part in a protest, marking the ninth-year anniversary of their exodus, on Kutupalong refugee camp playground at Ukhia in Cox’s Bazar on Tuesday. | New Age photo
Rohingyas observed ‘Genocide Day’ at refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar on Tuesday, demanding a safe and dignified return to Myanmar.
According to the United Nations, about 12 lakh Rohingyas currently live in Bangladesh.
Despite several major international efforts to resolve the crisis over the past nine years, none has materialised due to a lack of consensus among the parties involved.
On Tuesday, more than one lakh Rohingya men and women from 33 camps at Ukhiya and Teknaf gathered at a rally to mark nine years since they fled to Bangladesh amid a military persecution.
On August 25, 2017, hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas fled to Bangladesh amid the military crackdown in Myanmar’s Rakhine State.
A large refugee settlement was subsequently established at Ukhiya and Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar.
The rally was organised at the football field of Kutupalong Camp-4 Extension at Ukhiya on Tuesday morning.
At the rally, the Rohingyas demanded safe and dignified repatriation to their homeland of Arakan and called for a coordinated initiative by the international community.
The rally ended with a prayer for the opportunity to return to their homeland.
Rohingyas attending the rally said they wanted to return to Myanmar as soon as possible if their security, rights and dignity were ensured.
Salim Ullah of Kutupalong Camp-4 said, ‘We did not want to leave our own country. We took shelter in Bangladesh to save our lives. If our security and rights are ensured, we want to return to our homeland.’
Hazera Khatun said, ‘It is not enough just to send us back. We must be assured that we will not face persecution again after returning to Myanmar. We do not want to become displaced again.’
Majed Abdullah, a resident of Camp-3, said in tears, ‘My father was killed in Myanmar in 2017. We were tortured and forced to leave. We have not found peace even after coming to Bangladesh. Terrorist groups have repeatedly attacked me. We do not want to stay here. We want to be repatriated safely to Myanmar after our demands are accepted.’
Sahara Bibi, a resident of Camp-1, said, ‘There has been no solution to our repatriation even after nine years. We want to return to our homeland soon. We call on the United Nations to take necessary steps for our safe repatriation.’
A section of the Rohingyas at the rally also chanted slogans demanding the release of Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army chief Ataullah Abu Ammar Jununi.
Syed Ullah, head of the United Council of Rohingya, said a new generation had grown up in the camps over the past nine years, but their future remained uncertain.
‘The security, citizenship rights and dignity of Rohingyas must be ensured before they return to Arakan,’ he said.
Nurul Amin, a leader of Balukhali Camp-9, said, ‘Myanmar claims that we are Bengalis, which is not true. We are Rohingyas. Bangladesh has given us shelter.’
Rohingya leaders from different camps said the Rohingya crisis was not merely an issue between Bangladesh and Myanmar.
They said influential countries and the international community must work together to create conditions for safe and dignified repatriation.
Additional security measures were taken at the Rohingya camps ahead of the rally.
Members of law enforcement agencies were deployed at and around the rally venue.
They observe ‘Genocide Day’ on 9th anniv of their exodus to Bangladesh
Tarekur Rahman . Cox’s Bazar 25 August, 2026, 10:47
Tens of thousands of Rohingyas gather to take part in a protest, marking the ninth-year anniversary of their exodus, on Kutupalong refugee camp playground at Ukhia in Cox’s Bazar on Tuesday. | New Age photo
Rohingyas observed ‘Genocide Day’ at refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar on Tuesday, demanding a safe and dignified return to Myanmar.
According to the United Nations, about 12 lakh Rohingyas currently live in Bangladesh.
Despite several major international efforts to resolve the crisis over the past nine years, none has materialised due to a lack of consensus among the parties involved.
On Tuesday, more than one lakh Rohingya men and women from 33 camps at Ukhiya and Teknaf gathered at a rally to mark nine years since they fled to Bangladesh amid a military persecution.
On August 25, 2017, hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas fled to Bangladesh amid the military crackdown in Myanmar’s Rakhine State.
A large refugee settlement was subsequently established at Ukhiya and Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar.
The rally was organised at the football field of Kutupalong Camp-4 Extension at Ukhiya on Tuesday morning.
At the rally, the Rohingyas demanded safe and dignified repatriation to their homeland of Arakan and called for a coordinated initiative by the international community.
The rally ended with a prayer for the opportunity to return to their homeland.
Rohingyas attending the rally said they wanted to return to Myanmar as soon as possible if their security, rights and dignity were ensured.
Salim Ullah of Kutupalong Camp-4 said, ‘We did not want to leave our own country. We took shelter in Bangladesh to save our lives. If our security and rights are ensured, we want to return to our homeland.’
Hazera Khatun said, ‘It is not enough just to send us back. We must be assured that we will not face persecution again after returning to Myanmar. We do not want to become displaced again.’
Majed Abdullah, a resident of Camp-3, said in tears, ‘My father was killed in Myanmar in 2017. We were tortured and forced to leave. We have not found peace even after coming to Bangladesh. Terrorist groups have repeatedly attacked me. We do not want to stay here. We want to be repatriated safely to Myanmar after our demands are accepted.’
Sahara Bibi, a resident of Camp-1, said, ‘There has been no solution to our repatriation even after nine years. We want to return to our homeland soon. We call on the United Nations to take necessary steps for our safe repatriation.’
A section of the Rohingyas at the rally also chanted slogans demanding the release of Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army chief Ataullah Abu Ammar Jununi.
Syed Ullah, head of the United Council of Rohingya, said a new generation had grown up in the camps over the past nine years, but their future remained uncertain.
‘The security, citizenship rights and dignity of Rohingyas must be ensured before they return to Arakan,’ he said.
Nurul Amin, a leader of Balukhali Camp-9, said, ‘Myanmar claims that we are Bengalis, which is not true. We are Rohingyas. Bangladesh has given us shelter.’
Rohingya leaders from different camps said the Rohingya crisis was not merely an issue between Bangladesh and Myanmar.
They said influential countries and the international community must work together to create conditions for safe and dignified repatriation.
Additional security measures were taken at the Rohingya camps ahead of the rally.
Members of law enforcement agencies were deployed at and around the rally venue.
