Leaders of the United Council of Rohingya (UCR) on Thursday called on the international community to draw up a clear, time-bound roadmap for the safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar.
The call came at a human chain and rally in front of the UCR’s temporary office at Rohingya Camp 15 in Jamtoli, Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, ahead of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“Nearly nine years is a long time. No more indefinite displacement. Now is the time to create the right conditions for Rohingyas to return home,” the UCR said.
UCR founding president Maulvi Sayeed Ullah said the time had come for a concrete decision on the future of Rohingyas, who have long relied on international assistance while living in the camps.
“The crisis cannot be resolved by keeping Rohingyas in the camps indefinitely,” Sayeed said.
Rohingya leader Master Md Soib said discussions alone would not ensure repatriation.
“An environment must be created in Myanmar where we can return to our homes with security and dignity,” Soib said.
Rohingya leader Mohammad Rafiq said the international community had repeatedly recognised the Rohingyas’ right to return.
“But in reality, we are still in the camps. A specific and time-bound roadmap for repatriation must therefore be developed through the United Nations,” Rafiq said.
Rohingya women’s leader Sajida Begum said prolonged displacement had created various challenges for Rohingya women.
“Unless an environment is created for a safe and dignified return to our homeland, this crisis will continue for longer,” Sajida said.
Nuruzzaman, a resident of Camp 15, said Rohingyas wanted to return to their homeland after years of displacement.
“We have been living in displacement for nine long years. We are grateful to Bangladesh for giving us shelter, but we want to return to our own country, homes and families. Arrangements should be made for us to return safely,” Nuruzzaman said.
Rohingya leader Md Saleh said generations of Rohingyas were growing up in the camps with limited access to education, food, healthcare and other basic necessities.
“This situation must end. Safe repatriation should be arranged as soon as possible,” Saleh said.
Rohingya leader Anwar Hossain called for greater attention to repatriation at the UN General Assembly and urged world leaders to take effective decisions.
Another Rohingya, Nur Alam, said the crisis was not solely an issue between Bangladesh and Myanmar but had regional and international implications.
“If the crisis is not resolved quickly, its effects could spread further. There can be no lasting solution without repatriation,” Nur said.
Speakers said Myanmar’s internal situation, security and protection of rights must be given the highest priority in any repatriation process. They called for credible guarantees that the persecution that forced Rohingyas to flee would not recur.
The UCR welcomed the five-point proposal presented by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at a high-level side event on the Rohingya crisis at the UN headquarters on September 23.
The meeting, jointly organised by Bangladesh and The Gambia, stressed the need for stronger international action to resolve the crisis.
Tarique’s first proposal called for international and regional stakeholders to develop a clear and credible roadmap for the rapid, safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable repatriation of Rohingyas.
The second called for an end to violence against civilians, including Rohingyas, in Myanmar and guarantees of basic rights and security in their homeland.
The third stressed adequate and predictable humanitarian assistance for Rohingya refugees and host communities.
The fourth called for justice and accountability to support sustainable repatriation, including continued cooperation with the International Court of Justice, International Criminal Court and other international judicial and investigative mechanisms.
The fifth called for stronger regional and international cooperation to combat transnational crimes, including the drug economy, human trafficking, digital fraud and illicit arms.
In his UN address, Tarique also expressed concern over the situation in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, saying Rohingyas continued to face risks including forced recruitment, arbitrary detention, movement restrictions and forced labour.
He said serious violations had been alleged against both the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army, posing challenges to safe and dignified repatriation.
Tarique said Bangladesh had provided food, healthcare and education to Rohingyas for more than nine years but could not shoulder the responsibility indefinitely. He also warned that prolonged displacement was increasing risks related to human trafficking, drug trafficking and irregular migration.
The UCR called on the UN, regional powers and member states to turn international solidarity into concrete action by developing a credible, time-bound and rights-based roadmap for repatriation.
The organisation said Rohingyas did not want to remain refugees permanently and wanted to return to Myanmar with security, freedom, citizenship rights and dignity.