At a special session of the Rohingya Conference in Cox’s Bazar on Monday, refugees carried placards and banners declaring their desire to return to their homeland.
The session brought together diplomats from multiple countries, leaders from BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and the National Citizens’ Party (NCP), along with international experts, civil society groups, and Rohingya representatives.
BNP leader Ismail Jobiullah accused Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of failing diplomatically and politically to resolve the crisis. NCP leader Akhtar Hossain argued that the Rohingya had been forcibly displaced and did not voluntarily seek refuge in Bangladesh.
Jamaat secretary Mia Golam Porwar stressed that repatriation must ensure human dignity to be sustainable. Other participants warned that failure to address the crisis could heighten regional security risks and potentially trigger shadow conflicts along the border.
The refugees themselves sent a clear message, holding up signs that read: “We want to go home.”