Farrukh Khosru with Abrar Al Amin from Cox’ Bazar :
Despite eight years passing without progress on Rohingya repatriation, hope has been reignited following visits by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, to the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar. Meanwhile, conflict continues to rage in Myanmar’s Rakhine State between the military junta and the Arakan Army, with the rebel group claiming control over five cities.
In this tense context, the UN Secretary-General’s visit has renewed optimism among the Rohingya refugees eager to return home.
Many believe that if the “Responsibility to Protect (RTP)” framework is endorsed at the UN General Assembly, it could pave the way for their safe repatriation.
Mohammad Zobair, Chairman of the Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Human Rights (ARSPHR), emphasised the
need for a “safe zone” in Rakhine.
“We are ready to return if a safe zone is established, and we hope the UN Secretary-General will prioritise this demand,” he said.
Hasan, a 25-year-old Rohingya from Camp 2E, expressed cautious optimism, stating, “We remain hopeful for a safe and dignified return to our homeland.
The Rohingya crisis has been overshadowed by global conflicts like those in Ukraine and Palestine.
This visit is a reminder to world leaders to prioritise our situation. We also hope the food allowance, reduced from $12 to $6, will be restored soon.”
Fifteen-year-old Abdullah, a Rohingya student, highlighted the severe educational challenges within the camps.
“We do not receive recognised educational certificates, and our learning is inadequate. Our future prospects are limited to working as volunteers or teachers for NGOs.
We want to return to Myanmar and pursue proper education in formal institutions,” he said.
Ahead of the high-profile visit, the ARSPHR issued a press release outlining three key demands: ensuring effective humanitarian assistance for the Rohingya, strengthening accountability for justice, and establishing safe zones in Arakan State.
The Cox’s Bazar Community Alliance welcomed the visit, describing it as a step towards enhancing international cooperation and promoting sustainable development.
They presented a five-point demand addressing humanitarian needs, civic services, and the broader development of the region.
International NGOs working on the Rohingya crisis also issued a joint statement urging the global community to take urgent and coordinated action.
They warned that recent funding cuts and continued global inaction would only worsen the humanitarian situation.
The visit marks the second time UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has visited the Rohingya camps, with his first visit occurring in 2018 following the mass exodus of Rohingya refugees.
This time, the visit coincided with the announcement of further reductions in food aid, cutting the allowance from $12.50 to $6 from April onwards.
During his visit to the Balukhali camp in Ukhiya, Guterres toured learning centres, spoke with women and children, and visited the Rohingya Cultural Centre.
In an unscheduled move, he entered several Rohingya homes to witness their difficult living conditions firsthand.
Addressing the press after the tour, Guterres emphasised two major points.
Firstly, he reaffirmed the Rohingya community’s desire to return to Myanmar and urged the international community to work towards stabilising conditions in Rakhine State.
Secondly, he stressed the need to maintain adequate support and services for refugees living in camps like those in Ukhiya and Teknaf.
Following the camp visit, Guterres and Dr. Yunus attended the Ramadan Solidarity Iftar, one of the largest of its kind globally.
Rohingya representatives displayed placards bearing messages such as “No More Refugee Life,” “UN, Ensure Our Safe and Dignified Return,” and “We are Rohingya, Not Stateless.”
Speaking in the Chittagong dialect, Dr. Yunus reassured the Rohingya community that both he and the UN Secretary-General would work tirelessly to facilitate their return to Myanmar.
Antonio Guterres expressed his hope to see the Rohingya back in their homeland by Eid next year and promised to celebrate the occasion with them. Dr. Yunus echoed this commitment, pledging to prioritise the repatriation effort.
The visit has once again raised the pressing question: Will these renewed efforts translate into concrete action for the safe and dignified return of the Rohingya to Myanmar? For now, the Rohingya community and the people of Bangladesh await answers with cautious optimism.
