Rohingya Muslim refugees from Myanmar reflect on 2 years in camps
COX’S BAZAR, Bangladesh — Tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees observed the second anniversary of their exodus from Myanmar into Bangladesh by rallying and praying Sunday as they demand that Myanmar grant them citizenship and other rights before they agree to return.
The rally was held days after Bangladesh, with the help of the U.N. refugee agency, attempted to start the repatriation of 3,450 Rohingya Muslims — a small fraction of the 700,000 who fled a 2017 security crackdown in Myanmar. None agreed to go back, citing fear for their safety and a lack of confidence in Myanmar. The UNHCR said that building confidence was essential for repatriation.
The police chief in Cox’s Bazar, A.B.M. Masud Hossain, said at least 50,000 refugees protested peacefully for hours in the camps on Sunday.
Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said her administration will not use force to send the refugees back despite a huge burden on the South Asian country.
At the Kutupalong refugee camp on Sunday, some carried placards and banners reading “Never again! Rohingya Genocide Remembrance Day” and “Restore our citizenship.”
They raised their hands during a prayer session and cried as an imam led the sermon with an emotional narration of their sufferings. The prayer was held for the victims of the killings, rape and arson attacks by Myanmar soldiers and Buddhist militias.
Myanmar has consistently denied human rights violations and says military operations in Rakhine state, where most of the Rohingya fled from, were justified in response to attacks by Rohingya insurgents.
Tofayel Ahmad and Julhas Alam are Associated Press writers.