Sunday marks seven years since a large number of Rohingya refugees arrived in Cox's Bazar after being displaced from Myanmar.
On August 25, 2017, over 700,000 Rohingya crossed the border and took shelter in the forests of Ukhiya and Teknaf in Cox's Bazar, fleeing the Myanmar military’s brutal massacre and horrific persecution.
Along with the 350,000 Rohingya who had previously taken refuge, more than 1.2 million Rohingya currently reside in 33 camps in Cox's Bazar.
It remains uncertain when they will return to their homeland. However, government refugee officials have stated that discussions with Myanmar regarding Rohingya repatriation are ongoing.
In 2017, under the pretext of combating terrorism, the Myanmar military conducted ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya population in Rakhine State, prompting the refugees to flee to Ukhiya and Teknaf in Cox's Bazar.
Within two to three months after August 25 of that year, around 750,000 Rohingya took shelter in Ukhiya and Teknaf.
Subsequently, the United Nations ensured their food assistance and other facilities.
In 2017, Bangladesh initiated bilateral talks with Myanmar to repatriate the Rohingya. Despite several efforts to repatriate them, not a single Rohingya has returned to Myanmar.
The Rohingya believe that without assurances of citizenship, ethnic identity, land rights, and justice for the genocide, they would face military persecution again if they returned to Myanmar.
Mohammad Idris, a leader at the Rohingya camp No 7 in Ukhiya, said: "It's been seven years since we came to Bangladesh, but no one has provided a resolution for our repatriation. We don't know how much longer we will have to stay in Bangladesh."
Another Rohingya leader Syed Ullah said: "We don't know when the Rohingya will return home. Today (Sunday), we will hold meetings and gatherings in various parts of the camp to mark the seventh anniversary. Through these gatherings, we want to inform the world that the international community should take steps to pressure Myanmar into allowing the Rohingya to return to their homeland."
Mohammad Zubair, president of the Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Human Rights (ARSPH), said: "Rohingya are becoming a burden on this small country of Bangladesh. Therefore, we urge the international community to find a way to pressure Myanmar to repatriate this large number of Rohingya."
Regarding the repatriation process, Additional Commissioner Samsuddouza Nayan of the Cox's Bazar Refugee Relief and Repatriation Office said: "Today (Sunday) marks the seventh year since the arrival of the Rohingya, stepping into the eighth year. The Rohingya have been allowed to hold meetings and gatherings in the camp as they see fit. These events include various programs, starting with drawing competitions for Rohingya children."
He added: "There is currently a war in Rakhine. The situation there is very bad. The sound of the war's gunfire is even causing panic on this side. I don't have information on when the Rohingya repatriation will take place. However, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) is in a strong position at the border to prevent any new Rohingya from entering Bangladesh."
Meanwhile, due to the delay in repatriation, terrorism and criminal activities are on the rise in the Rohingya camps.
According to reports, the Rohingya are increasingly becoming involved in killings, rapes, abductions, arms, and drug trafficking, primarily over control and dominance.
Therefore, the local community hopes for the swift repatriation of the Rohingya.
