Dhaka, Aug 26:
Thousands of Rohingya refugees gathered in Bangladesh to demand conditions that would allow them to return safely to their homes in Myanmar’s Rakhine State.
The rally highlighted the community’s continued demand for a secure and dignified return rather than permanent displacement in refugee camps in Bangladesh.
Rohingya representatives called for guarantees of safety, rights and security before any large-scale repatriation is undertaken.
The refugees have been living in Bangladesh after fleeing violence and persecution in Myanmar. Any return process faces major challenges, particularly because of continuing instability in Rakhine State.
The rally also underscored the refugees’ desire to return to their homeland while insisting that repatriation must take place under conditions that protect their lives, rights and dignity.
Bangladesh has repeatedly sought international support for a sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis, while efforts to begin repatriation have faced repeated obstacles.