Tuesday (25 August) morning, the rally was held at the football field of Camp-4 Extension in Ukhia on the initiative of the United Council of Rohingya. Rohingyas sheltered in various camps in Ukhia and Teknaf participated.
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‘This country is not ours, we want to return to our own country’
At the rally, demands were made to remember those killed in the 2017 genocide, ensure justice and accountability, as well as safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation to Myanmar's Rakhine State.
Rohingya rights activist Mohammad Rafiq said, despite nine long years, the only desire of Rohingyas is to return to their motherland. He called upon the international community to take effective steps to resolve the Rohingya crisis.
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Mohammad Syed Ullah, a member of the presidential panel of UCR, said Rohingyas are grateful to Bangladesh for giving shelter on humanitarian grounds. But they want to live a normal life in their own country. Repatriation will not be complete just by crossing the border; security, citizenship, freedom of movement and livelihood guarantees in Rakhine are needed.
Speakers at the rally demanded effective international initiatives to ensure a safe environment in Rakhine before repatriation. Later, participants chanted various slogans in the Rohingya language for about 10 minutes.
The Office of the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner said that like every year, permission was given for the rally this time too. Members of the Armed Police Battalion were on duty at the camp to maintain law and order.