Nine Years in Exile: Rohingya Refugees Renew Call for Safe Return to Myanmar

Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, August 25, 2026: Tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees gathered in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar camps on Tuesday to mark nine years since the mass exodus from Myanmar, renewing their demand for a safe, voluntary and dignified return to their homeland in Rakhine State.

The rallies came as the Rohingya refugee crisis enters its tenth year, with more than 1.2 million Rohingya living in overcrowded camps in Bangladesh and large-scale repatriation still stalled.

Rohingya Mark ‘Genocide Remembrance Day’

August 25 marks the anniversary of the 2017 military crackdown in Myanmar’s Rakhine State that forced more than 700,000 Rohingya to cross into Bangladesh.

Refugees gathered at camps in Ukhiya and Teknaf, holding rallies, prayers and remembrance events. Demonstrators called for justice for those killed during the violence and urged the international community to help create conditions for a safe return.

The United Council of Rohingya organised one of the major gatherings in Cox’s Bazar, where participants demanded that their return to Myanmar be safe, voluntary and dignified.

More Than 1.2 Million Rohingya Remain in Bangladesh

Nine years after the mass displacement, Bangladesh continues to host one of the world's largest refugee populations.

More than 1.2 million Rohingya are now living in roughly 30 camps around Cox’s Bazar. Many of those who arrived in 2017 have spent almost their entire lives in refugee settlements.

The prolonged displacement has created growing concerns over food security, education, employment opportunities, health services and the future of children growing up in the camps.

Safe Return Remains the Central Demand

The refugees' main demand remains unchanged: the right to return home safely and with dignity.

Rohingya leaders say any repatriation must include guarantees relating to security, citizenship, freedom of movement and fundamental rights.

Previous attempts to begin repatriation have failed because refugees have been unwilling to return while fighting and insecurity continue in Rakhine State. Bangladesh has said it will not force refugees to return.

Myanmar Says More Than 300,000 Have Been Verified

There has been a recent development in the repatriation process.

Myanmar's military-backed government has said it has verified 308,797 people from Bangladesh's refugee population as former residents of Rakhine State. It has indicated that repatriation could take place once security conditions improve.

However, there is still no clear timetable for a large-scale return.

Bangladesh and Myanmar also differ over the recognition and identity of the Rohingya population, adding another major obstacle to the process.

Conflict in Rakhine Complicates Repatriation

The security situation in Myanmar remains a major barrier.

Fighting in Rakhine State has continued, while the United Nations has reported worsening human-rights conditions in Myanmar. The situation has raised concerns about whether refugees could safely return to their former homes.

For many Rohingya families, returning without credible security and rights guarantees remains unacceptable.

Aid Shortages Add to the Crisis

The refugee camps are also facing increasing humanitarian pressure.

Declining international aid and difficult living conditions have intensified concerns about food supplies and essential services. Aid organisations and refugee representatives have urged the international community not to lose focus on the crisis as other global conflicts compete for attention and funding.

A Generation Growing Up in Refugee Camps

One of the most serious consequences of the prolonged crisis is its impact on children.

Thousands of Rohingya children have been born in Bangladesh since 2017. Many have never visited Myanmar and know their ancestral homeland only through stories from their parents and grandparents.

This has transformed the crisis from a short-term displacement into a long-running generational refugee crisis.

International Attention Remains Crucial

Rohingya representatives continue to call for stronger international involvement in securing justice and creating conditions for voluntary repatriation.

The legal dimension of the crisis also remains active, with allegations concerning genocide against Myanmar being considered by the International Court of Justice.

Refugee leaders argue that humanitarian assistance alone cannot resolve the crisis unless the underlying political and security conditions in Myanmar are addressed.

Key Facts
Issue Details
2017 Exodus August 25, 2017
Current location Mainly Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh
Refugee population More than 1.2 million
Main demand Safe and dignified return to Myanmar
Major obstacle Insecurity and conflict in Rakhine State
Myanmar verification 308,797 recognised as former Rakhine residents
Large-scale repatriation Still has not begun
Major international legal case Rohingya genocide case at the ICJ
Conclusion

Nine years after the 2017 exodus, the Rohingya refugee crisis remains unresolved.

The latest rallies in Cox’s Bazar show that despite spending almost a decade in Bangladesh, refugees continue to view return to their homeland as their ultimate goal.

But with conflict continuing in Rakhine State, humanitarian conditions deteriorating and no firm repatriation timetable, the path home remains uncertain.

For the Rohingya community, the message from Cox’s Bazar is clear: they want to return—but only when that return is safe, voluntary, dignified and accompanied by fundamental rights.