Rohingya Muslims seek safe return to Myanmar as violence continues

Rohingya refugees living in camps around Cox’s Bazar, southeastern Bangladesh, have taken to the streets to demand a secure and dignified return to their homeland in Myanmar. The demonstrations came as the ninth anniversary of the mass violence that drove more than 700,000 Rohingya across the border was marked.

Civilian toll rises under military rule

The renewed calls for repatriation come as Myanmar’s security crisis continues to deteriorate. James Rodehaver, head of the Myanmar team at the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), said more than 8,300 civilians had been killed by the military during the 5.5-year conflict that followed the 2021 coup. He added that at least 146 civilians had died in airstrikes during the previous 100 days alone.

Rodehaver also recalled the scale of the 2016-2017 violence against the Rohingya. According to the UN, more than 10,000 people were killed and more than 700,000 were forced to flee to Bangladesh. The continuing conflict has left the Rohingya community exposed to further abuses, while conditions in their refugee camps remain difficult.

Repatriation efforts face security concerns

Diplomatic efforts to facilitate the return of Rohingya Muslims have gained momentum. Malaysia has said Myanmar agreed to accept more than 300,000 Rohingya from Bangladesh once conditions allow, following talks led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Myanmar has separately agreed to receive 5,000 Rohingya Muslims from Malaysia, although Kuala Lumpur has stressed that no return should take place if the refugees face persecution or threats to their lives.

The latest developments have revived debate over whether conditions in Rakhine State are sufficiently secure for large-scale repatriation. The UN and other international bodies continue to warn about attacks on civilians, displacement and violations of international humanitarian law, underscoring the gap between diplomatic commitments and conditions on the ground.

Rohingya crisis began with mass displacement

The Rohingya exodus accelerated after a Myanmar military operation in August 2017, following attacks on security posts in Rakhine State. More than 700,000 Rohingya crossed into Bangladesh, adding to an earlier refugee population created by years of persecution and displacement. The camps around Cox’s Bazar subsequently became one of the world’s largest concentrations of refugees.

For Rohingya families gathered in Bangladesh, the demand remains centered on returning home without being exposed to renewed violence. Their appeals now come amid a conflict in Myanmar that the UN says is continuing to claim civilian lives, making security guarantees a central condition for any future repatriation.