On the fifth anniversary of what many Rohingya people call Genocide Day, a chorus of voices rose across camps in Bangladesh where they now live in crowded conditions. The Burmese Army’s violence forced thousands to flee Myanmar, pushing them to seek shelter in neighboring areas where life remains precarious and survival is a constant struggle.
In makeshift camps, cries of distress mingled with protests as refugees gathered to demand an end to the humanitarian crisis. They called for safe repatriation to Burma and for an end to the hardship that shadows their daily existence in exile.
The violence that began five years ago sent 774,000 Rohingya into Bangladesh, joining others who had already left. Today, nearly a million Rohingya are housed in shelters around Cox’s Bazar, in the southeast of the country, where overcrowding and limited resources compound the trauma of displacement.
“We are nobody”
Speakers recalled days when hundreds of villages were emptied. The pain was raw as survivors spoke of lives lost, families shattered, and the brutal violence that many say targeted Rohingya women and men alike. The words of those who have endured this long night of fear and uncertainty echoed through the camps, underscoring a loss of citizenship and basic rights that has stretched far beyond a single moment in history.
With roots tracing back to institutions such as Yangon University, many Rohingya now confront a stark reality: a generation deemed invisible inside their homeland, a status that compounds the isolation of exile and the fight to preserve dignity in crowded lanes and quarters of camp life.
Rohingya banners flutter as they request international support and accountability. A hundred voices joined in a call for justice, while some individuals pursued legal avenues at international courts, seeking accountability for crimes suffered and a chance at relief years in waiting.
Regarded by many as a symbol of ongoing injustice, Genocide Day has become a reminder that the younger generation must understand what their elders endured. Renowned scholar Mohammad Selim observed that the demonstrations serve dual purposes: protest and memory, ensuring the younger generation never forgets the events that reshaped their lives.
For some, the sentiment is personal and direct. A young Rohingya, Faizul Islam, described his life as split—about a third of it spent away from home. He spoke with quiet resolve, asserting a longing to return but acknowledging the harsh truth that Burma is his country yet the path back remains fraught with barriers.
Back Home
Hope for an immediate end to the humanitarian crisis remains distant, especially after the February 2021 military coup in Burma. The nation’s official press has largely skipped or minimized mention of the violence that began five years earlier, a silence that many refugees interpret as a denial of their plight.
There have been attempts to begin voluntary repatriation, but two major efforts have faltered — not due to willingness on the refugees’ side but because of citizenship and security concerns in Burma that have not yet been addressed.
Raising the banner of the crisis, a common refrain in Cox’s Bazar is that Burma remains a barrier rather than a homeland for many Rohingya. The death in 2021 of a leading figure, Sonar Ali, highlighted new obstacles to return. He spoke with Efe, noting that the loss of Mohibullah, a prominent leader, created a vacuum and a difficult climate for any meaningful progress toward repatriation.
Mohibullah, who led the Rohingya community’s broader network, was killed in an attack attributed by some to dissidents. His successor, Mohammad Jubair, leader of a peace and rights association, warned that continued threats and violence, coupled with official assurances of protection, have not yet translated into real movement toward homecoming. The fear of retaliation and the perception that many returnees could face justice issues in Burma complicate any forward steps.
As one survivor put it, threats persisted even after the leader’s death. The sentiment is clear: many fear they cannot safely return while the government and security landscape remain unsettled.
International Response
On the fifth anniversary of the exile, several nations, including Turkey and Spain, issued statements through their diplomatic missions in Dhaka condemning the ongoing cycle of impunity. They urged an end to the crisis and called on Burma and Bangladesh to continue hosting Rohingya refugees with dignity and necessary protections.
Countries expressed readiness to maintain sanctions against those who violate Rohingya rights and to press for a political and humanitarian resolution to the crisis sparked by the 2021 military coup. Signatories, including the United States, reaffirmed their commitment to work with Bangladesh and the United Nations to ensure that Rohingya refugees receive essential aid, protection, and education while preparing for a safe return to Burma whenever conditions permit.
Witnesses insist that the path to lasting peace requires accountability and a sustained international effort that recognizes the refugee crisis as a shared responsibility. The stories from Cox’s Bazar, the memories of Genocide Day, and the enduring hunger for safety collectively call for a future where return, when it happens, happens with rights, security, and dignity for all Rohingya.