Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh Protest for Safe Return to Myanmar

Tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees, living in sprawling camps in Bangladesh, have staged protests demanding a safe return to their homeland, Myanmar. The demonstrations mark nine years since they fled government operations in their native Rakhine State.

Protesters urged the international community to guarantee safety in Rakhine State as they observed what they termed the "Ninth Anniversary of Rohingya Genocide Day." Over a million refugees from the ethnic and religious minority group now reside in camps around the Cox's Bazar district in southeastern Bangladesh. The majority arrived in a mass exodus in 2017, fleeing Myanmar's crackdown on Rohingya in Rakhine following attacks by Rohingya Muslim insurgent groups.

Bangladesh has attempted repatriation at least twice, but these efforts failed as no refugees were willing to return, citing security reasons. The Bangladeshi government maintains it will not force anyone to return.

Meanwhile, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has been holding hearings on a case accusing Myanmar of genocide against the Rohingya in 2017. The court has reviewed documentary evidence, expert testimonies, and witness statements detailing mass killings, systematic sexual violence, and village destruction. International bodies, including the United Nations, have accused Myanmar of ethnic cleansing and genocide due to the scale and ferocity of the operations. Myanmar's government contends its military campaign was a legitimate anti-terrorism operation, not genocide.

The situation in Rakhine State has become increasingly insecure. Earlier this month, a military-backed government in Myanmar stated that over 300,000 Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh were former residents of Rakhine and would be accepted back when security conditions improve. However, the refugees' demands focus on ensuring their safety and rights before any potential return.