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‘We are ready to return to Myanmar only if our civic rights are ensured’
[Dhaka Tribune] It has been three months since the recent refugee crisis started in Bangladesh, as an unprecedented number of displaced Rohingyas began a mass exodus from northern Rakhine state, following a campaign of terror perpetrated by the Myanmar Army.To get an in-depth view of the current state of the refugee crisis, a Dhaka Tribune correspondent visited the Rohingya camps located in Ukhiya and Teknaf upazilas of Cox’s Bazar district. More than a hundred Rohingya men and women, who fled Myanmar after August 25 this year, were asked their opinion about returning to their homeland. A majority of the refugees stated that they are ready to go home only if the Myanmar government ensures their basic human rights ...which are usually entirely different from personal liberty... and ethnic identity. Kalimuddin, 30, who left his home village in Maungdaw Township day after Eid-ul-Azha [August 27], became emotional while describing the life he had in Myanmar. "I took my wife and five children, and fled the oppression of Myanmar army and Moghs. We made a life here at Jamtoli Camp but we miss our homeland dearly," he said. Kalimuddin firmly added that Myanmar is his country and he wants to go back but the Rohingya people’s civic rights must be ensured first. Mohib Ullah, a sexagenarian hailing from Chindiprang area of Buthidaung, said: "Bangladesh is not our country and we are Rohingya not Bangali. We are Myanmar nationals and we have the right live in Rakhine despite Myanmar government’s repeated claims that we do not belong there. "We just want to preserve our ethnic identity and our rights," he added. Anwar Hossain, who arrived in the camp from Bolibazar area under Maungdaw Township, echoed the same. Posted by: Fred 2017-11-25 |
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