Rohingyas from 25 of the 34 refugee camps in Ukhia and Teknaf gathered on Sunday demanding to be repatriated to their homeland Myanmar.
The rally started at 8:00am at 23 camps in Ukhia and two in Teknaf following the staging of human chains and demonstration.
Chanting “Back to Home” slogan Rohingyas of all ages from every block of the refugee camps participated in the rally and requested the global communities to ensure their return to Myanmar.
They demanded that they should be recognised by their ethnic name Rohingya.
The other demands are early repatriation to their villages in Arakan state of Myanmar, implementation of all agreements made on Rohingya repatriation, Involving the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Nations, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, European Union, Bangladesh, NGOs and all involved in the repatriation process, abolition of the Burma Citizenship Act of 1982, returning assets, and right to live.
Rohingya leader Mohib Ullah, who was shot in the camp on September 29, 2021, led the general assembly held on August 25, 2019 with the same demands.
But this year there was no single organiser or leader mentioned in the leaflet of the assembly rather millions of persecuted Rohingyas were mentioned as the organiser.
Mohammad Hossain, head of camp-4 in Ukhia said,” We want safe repatriation. Hopefully, after this assembly, our demands will be more valued by the international communities.”
“We are grateful to the Bangladesh government for their humanitarian act of sheltering us but we want to return to our homeland with respect and honour,” said Koni Mong, president of the Rohingya Youth Association.
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Armed Police Battalion Unit-8 (8APBN) Additional Police Super (ASP) Kamran Hossain said, “Peaceful demos were held across the camp and the Rohingyas were not interfered with. We are working to maintain the peace at the camp.”
In 2017, Rohingyas were forced to leave their country and take refuge in Bangladesh after facing the most heinous ethnic cleansing campaign by the Myanmar Army.
Bangladesh and Myanmar signed a repatriation deal on November 23, 2017.
On January 16, 2018 Bangladesh and Myanmar inked a document on “Physical Arrangement”, which was supposed to facilitate the return of Rohingyas to their homeland.
