by Today marks 8 years since the Rohingyas’ uncertain journey to Bangladesh after being persecuted in Myanmar. Rohingyas sheltering in camps in Ukhia-Teknaf observed the day as ‘Rohingya Genocide Remembrance Day’ on Monday (August 25).
At least 100,000 Rohingyas participated in the rally from morning to afternoon today. The biggest rally started at the football field of Madhurchhara No. 4 Rohingya Camp in Rajapalong, Ukhia at 10 am today with the recitation of the Holy Quran. Lakhs of Rohingyas from different camps participated in this rally.
The rally was attended by children and youth, starting with women. Banners and placards with the words ‘We Want Justice’, ‘Arkan is Our Home’, ‘We Will Go Home, World Listens to Us’ etc. were seen in the hands of the Rohingya participants present.
Speaking at the rally organized by them, Rohingya leader Master Kamal, spokesperson of the FDN Rohingya Representative Committee, said, “We are ready to return home at any moment. The world must listen to our pleas and stand by us. We are also human beings, we also have the right to live with dignity. And the international community must ensure that right.”
Rohingya youth Mohammad Salim, Rafiq and Mayu Islam, in a speech titled ‘August 25, What We Saw’, described the horrific atrocities of 2017.
They said, we walked a long way in one cloth to save lives in Bangladesh. A brutal genocide has been committed against us, a wound that will never be forgotten.
Abdul Motaleb and Mohammad Sadeq spoke under the title ‘What We Need’. At that time, they called on the Rohingya to remain united in addition to their main demands for repatriation with security and dignity.
Rohingya youth Jahan Noor spoke in English, drawing the attention of the international community. He said, “Barbaric torture is still being carried out on the Rohingya in Rakhine, our brothers and sisters are losing their lives at the hands of the Arkan Army. The international community must come forward to stop the oppression.”
In addition to the performance of Rohingya tarana (song) at the rally, the youth recited poems in English, Burmese and Rohingya languages.
The rally ended with a prayer in the emotional voice of Maulvi Abdul Gani. At this time, the Rohingyas present prayed to the Creator with tears in their eyes for help.
It has been reported that rallies were also held in Rohingya Camp No. 4, Ukhiya Camp No. 1-West, and Rohingya Camp No. 9.
While the rally was going on in the camp, Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus was speaking as the chief guest at a three-day international conference on Rohingya at Hotel Bay-Watch on the seashore of Inani. At this time, he called on the international community to come forward to solve the Rohingya crisis and proposed a 7-point action plan.
The conference is being called a preparatory event ahead of the high-level conference on Rohingya to be held at the United Nations on September 30. The conference will conclude with participants visiting Rohingya camps on August 26.
