Demanding safe return of the Rohingya refugees to their homeland, Ideal Citizen Movement (ICM) yesterday began a long march from Dhaka to Cox's Bazar.

Before starting off, the organisers held a rally in front of Jatiya Press Club and protested the killing of Rohingyas in Myanmar.

They also called upon its government to give the Rohingyas citizenship. The march started off towards Teknaf around noon.

The speakers urged the international organisations including the United Nations to intervene in ensuring safe repatriation of the Rohingyas. They criticised the role of China, Russia and India for not taking steps to resolve the issue.

Expressing solidarity with the programme, Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, founder of Gonoshasthaya Kendra, said Bangladesh government executed some responsibilities by giving the Rohingyas shelter on humanitarian grounds, but more needs to be done in this regard.He urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to visit the OIC member countries to launch diplomatic initiatives in resolving the Rohingya issue.

Expressing concern over the government's bilateral agreement with Myanmar on Rohingya repatriation, Mahmudul Hasan, founder of ICM, said it is not clear how many Rohingyas would be taken back. Unless there is any pressure from the world leaders, Myanmar may not take them back at all, he said.

Habibullah Al Mehedi, secretary general of Bangladesh Labour Party, and Shahnoor Islam Shaheen, member secretary (Dhaka unit) of ICM, were present.