Rohingya refugee communities in camps around Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh held a demonstration on Tuesday to press for their repatriation to Myanmar’s Rakhine state. The gathering, which the organizers characterized as marking the “Ninth Anniversary of Rohingya Genocide Day,” drew participation from more than 1 million refugees currently sheltering in the sprawling camp settlements.
The refugees cited security concerns as their primary obstacle to returning home. Bangladesh has attempted to facilitate repatriation on multiple occasions, but no refugees have volunteered to participate, according to official accounts. The Bangladesh government stated it will not compel anyone to leave against their will.
Fifteen countries and the European Union issued a joint statement on the same day expressing concern about conditions in Rakhine state. The diplomatic missions noted that escalating conflict, airstrikes affecting civilian areas, and limitations on humanitarian assistance have worsened the crisis. They indicated that current circumstances do not support conditions for “voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable repatriation.” Signatories included Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kosovo, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Myanmar’s government stated earlier this month that it would accept the return of more than 300,000 refugees identified as former Rakhine residents once security improves. Bangladesh has disputed these figures and objected to Myanmar’s practice of referring to the population as “Bengali” rather than “Rohingya,” characterizing this terminology as denying their identity. Refugee leader Sayed Ullah expressed concern about the extended timeline for resolution, questioning whether displacement could persist for decades given the volatile security situation involving multiple armed forces in the region.
In January, the International Court of Justice conducted hearings regarding allegations of genocide against the Rohingya during the 2017 military campaign. Myanmar characterized its operations as counterterrorism efforts rather than genocide, while the international community has identified accusations of ethnic cleansing and systematic violence during that period.
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