Rohingyas renew call for homeland

Diplomatic efforts to resolve the Rohingya crisis have gained renewed urgency as the displacement enters its tenth year, with Bangladesh hosting nearly 1.2 million refugees while the United Nations, the European Union and other international partners call for stronger action to create conditions for their safe, voluntary and dignified return to Myanmar.

The renewed diplomatic push came as Rohingyas held rallies in camps in Ukhiya and Teknaf on Tuesday (25 August), marking nine years of the crisis and demanding an early return to their homeland. Their main slogan was: “One final demand, we want to return to Arakan.”

Rallies were held at around 11am at Camp 4 Extension, Camp 13 and Camp 9 in Ukhiya and Camp 26 in Teknaf.

The largest gathering took place at the football field of Camp 4 Extension, where more than 100,000 Rohingyas assembled under the banner of the United Council of Rohingya (UCR).

UCR President Jahangir Alam chaired the rally, while its founding president Sayed Hossain and Rohingya leaders Kamal Hossain, Arif Ullah and Mujib Ullah, along with representatives of student, youth and community organisations, addressed the gathering.

From the morning, men, women and children marched from different blocks carrying banners and placards and calling for an end to their refugee life.

“No more refugee life, we want to return to our homeland,” was among the demands repeatedly raised.

A separate UCR rally at Shalbagan field in Teknaf began at 9am. Rohingya cleric Mohammad Yousuf opened the programme with a tarana in the Rohingya language describing persecution in Myanmar and called on the international community to accelerate repatriation.

UCR member Abu Taher said Rohingyas had their own history and heritage in Myanmar.

Responding to claims that they were “Bengali”, he said those making such assertions should provide documentary evidence, while Myanmar should establish its claim that Rohingyas are not indigenous to the country.

“Nine years have passed, yet we see no effective path home,” he said, warning that failure to secure safe and dignified repatriation through dialogue could make the situation increasingly difficult.

“If return is not possible through negotiations, we are ready to take up arms,” he said.

Teknaf Rohingya leader Badrul Islam described August 25 as “a day of unrest, not happiness”, recalling the 2017 violence and persecution in Rakhine that forced millions from their homes.

“We want justice for that genocide,” he said.

Leda camp chairman Mohammad Alam thanked Bangladesh for providing shelter but said the Rohingyas had remained in the country for too long.

“We are guests in this country. Now we should return to our birthplace,” he said.

He opposed resettlement elsewhere, saying it could threaten the continued existence of the Rohingya community and stressing the need for international support for safe and dignified repatriation.

Mohammad Zubayer, acting chairman of the Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Humanity in Ukhiya, said the refugees wanted a safe homeland for the next generation.

After nine years of life in the camps, he said, “We want freedom from this floating life and to return home safely.”

The Armed Police Battalion (APBn) strengthened security in the camps to prevent any untoward incident. Muhammad Kawsar Sikder, additional DIG of 16 APBn, said the programmes were held peacefully, with Rohingyas demanding an end to refugee life, citizenship rights and dignified repatriation.

As the refugees renewed their calls for return, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged the international community to step up efforts to address the crisis.

UN chief’s spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, quoting Guterres at a briefing in New York on Tuesday, said Rohingyas in Myanmar, Bangladesh and across the region were facing deepening insecurity, shrinking protection space and diminishing prospects for durable solutions.

The situation has been compounded by cuts in humanitarian funding, which are affecting life-saving assistance.

Until conditions allow for voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return, Guterres called on the international community to continue humanitarian assistance while providing livelihood opportunities and support for self-reliance.

In Myanmar, Rohingyas and other communities remain caught in conflict and displacement and face grave human rights violations and other abuses, including those allegedly committed by the Myanmar military, the Arakan Army and others.

Guterres reiterated his call for the protection of civilians under international law and praised Bangladesh and other refugee-hosting countries for their continued hospitality.

He also urged all states to protect people fleeing Myanmar and expressed alarm over the growing number of Rohingyas dying at sea. He called for regional cooperation on search and rescue, safe disembarkation and action against human trafficking.

The UN chief is also deeply concerned about increasing misinformation, disinformation and hate speech targeting Rohingyas in Myanmar and across the region.

He called for stronger international action towards an inclusive and comprehensive political solution addressing the root causes of Myanmar’s prolonged crisis.

Dujarric said the secretary-general’s Special Envoy on Myanmar, Julie Bishop, continued to engage with stakeholders to seek an end to violence and promote an inclusive, Myanmar-led and Myanmar-owned political process.

The diplomatic push was reinforced by a joint statement from diplomatic missions of 15 countries and the European Union in Bangladesh, which called for sustained international support as the crisis enters its tenth year.

The missions said nearly 1.2 million Rohingya refugees remained in Bangladesh and praised the country and its people for providing shelter for almost a decade.

They warned that escalating conflict in Rakhine, growing humanitarian needs, airstrikes on civilian infrastructure and restrictions on aid and trade were worsening the crisis and driving further displacement into Bangladesh and across the region.

The missions said current conditions do not “allow for voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable repatriation”.

They stressed that Rohingyas have a right to return to their homes in Myanmar, but said repatriation would require addressing the root causes of displacement, rebuilding trust between communities and improving peace and stability in Myanmar.

They also called for greater involvement of Bangladesh and refugee-led organisations in humanitarian assistance, stressing that Rohingya voices must remain central to decisions affecting their lives and future.

The missions pledged to continue working with Bangladesh to create conditions conducive to repatriation while supporting refugees and host communities and pursuing justice and accountability.

As the crisis enters its tenth year, the latest appeals from the UN, EU and other international partners have placed renewed emphasis on diplomacy and a political solution.

But with conditions in Myanmar still deemed unsuitable for safe and sustainable return, the Rohingyas remain caught between prolonged displacement and an uncertain path home.