Rohingya still hope for ‘safe return’ to Myanmar, but face a ‘different reality’

An expert thinks the odds of Rohingya repatriation amid Myanmar’s instability are low

“We have been here for eight years. Not a single night has passed in peace,” said Fatema, a Rohingya woman living in the refugee camp in Bangladesh since the 2017 influx.

“In these eight years, we’ve endured suffering equal to a thousand lifetimes. We want to go back to Myanmar. We just want a little peace,” said Fatema, who is approaching 30.

Mubinur, who crossed into Bangladesh at the age of 12 with his parents, is now 20.

“We came from Myanmar when I was very young. I never had the chance to study. I couldn’t become educated,” he said. “My parents cry every night. We want our country back.”

Salima Khatun, another refugee, said: “Bangladesh has given us shelter. But we want justice for the torture we endured in Myanmar. The way they assaulted our mothers and sisters, we want justice for every drop of their blood.”

With this shared pain and longing, Salima, Mubinur, Fatema, and many others gathered on Monday morning at the Balur Math in Camp No. 4 in Ukhiya’s Rohingya settlement in Cox’s Bazar.

As they have done each year since 2017, they observed Aug 25 as “Rohingya Genocide Remembrance Day”.

While this assembly in the camp called for a return to Myanmar with safety, dignity, and full citizenship, a separate international conference on “safe repatriation” was taking place at a luxury beachside hotel in Ukhiya -- attended by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus.

Fatema told the rally, “We’ve come together to make our voices heard around the world. We want our homes returned. The land that was taken from us must be given back.”

But while the yearning for return remains strong, many are filled with doubt.

Rahman Nasir Uddin, a professor of anthropology at Chittagong University who has worked extensively on Rohingya issues, questioned the feasibility of repatriation.

“I don’t see any effective sign of return at this moment. First, Myanmar’s internal instability -- there is no real authority of the junta in Rakhine,” he said.

“Even if we assume that Dhaka and Yangon agree to send them back, does the junta have the capacity to implement that decision?”

“Second, the attitude of the Arakan Army towards the Rohingya. Around 150,000 have fled just in the past year due to Arakan Army abuses. So what does that indicate?”

“And third, the Rohingya themselves -- do they have the courage or trust to return voluntarily? They still fear whether they will get back their citizenship, their homes, or their land.”

Rohingya resident Rahmat Ullah from Camp No. 5 voiced that very concern.

“Even if we plan to go back, will we be safe in Myanmar?” he asked. “Along with repatriation, ensuring our protection is the responsibility of the United Nations.

“That’s why we’ve gathered here [on Monday]. We want assurances we won’t have to flee again,” he added.

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