Rohingya leaders demand safe return roadmap, stronger refugee support
Rohingya representatives urge international action on safe repatriation to Burma as prolonged displacement strains refugees and host communities in Bangladesh
DHAKA, Bangladesh (MNTV) — Rohingya representatives have called for a clear international roadmap to ensure their safe, voluntary and sustainable return to their homeland in Burma, warning that prolonged displacement and declining humanitarian assistance are placing growing pressure on refugees and the Bangladeshi communities hosting them.
The appeal came during a roundtable discussion in Cox’s Bazar, southeastern Bangladesh, where Rohingya leaders joined government officials, humanitarian organizations and international agencies to discuss long-term solutions to one of the world’s largest refugee crises.
According to the United Council of Rohingya (UCR), its representatives Khin Maung and Sajida Begum raised concerns about the absence of a credible repatriation process and the challenges facing displaced Rohingya Muslims nearly a decade after hundreds of thousands fled a military crackdown in Burma.
The discussion, titled “Towards Ten Years of Solidarity – From Emergency Response to Sustainable Solutions,” was organized by NGOs Platform Cox’s Bazar with support from Switzerland and hosted by Plan International.
Khin Maung urged the international community to develop a concrete roadmap for Rohingya repatriation while ensuring continued assistance to both refugees and Bangladeshi host communities.
He emphasized that any sustainable response must address the needs of Rohingya refugees alongside those of local populations affected by years of hosting displaced communities.
Sajida Begum highlighted shortcomings in humanitarian assistance and development initiatives, calling for meaningful Rohingya participation in discussions and decisions concerning their future.
The representatives also stressed the importance of strengthening relations between refugees and host communities as displacement continues without a clear resolution.
The meeting was attended by senior officials, including Bangladesh’s Additional Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Nazmul Islam Bhuiyan and UN refugee agency representative Ivo Freijsen.
Bangladesh hosts more than one million Rohingya refugees, most living in overcrowded camps around Cox’s Bazar after fleeing decades of persecution and successive military operations in neighboring Burma.
Despite repeated diplomatic efforts, large-scale repatriation has not taken place, with Rohingya refugees continuing to face serious concerns over citizenship, security, freedom of movement and protection from persecution in Burma.
Conditions have become increasingly complicated by renewed fighting in Rakhine State, where conflict between the Burmese military and the Arakan Army has displaced civilians and raised further concerns about Rohingya safety.
Meanwhile, humanitarian agencies have warned that funding shortages threaten essential services, including food assistance, healthcare, education and protection programs in Bangladesh’s refugee settlements.
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