Rohingya refugees seek rights, security on return to Myanmar

Days after the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee (UNHCR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bangladesh, laying out the framework for the voluntary repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar, nearly 11 lakh refugees based in Cox’s Bazaar for close to a year now have mixed feelings. Though eager to go back to their villages that have been razed to ground now, the fear of violence, rape and murder holds them back.

In the refugee camp number 3 of Kutupalong, the Rohingya refugees told The Pioneer that they want their rights and security assured on return. “Life in camp is good. We are well taken care of. But there is nothing like your own home. We want to go back. We miss life in Burma.

But we can return only when our rights are given,” said Haidaya Tulla of Daksho village in Rakhine province of Myanmar. “I was teaching in madarsa in Myanmar and life was going on. But things changed when atrocities by Myanmar security began. There was so much fear and violence that we had to flee. And even while we were fleeing we were attacked. I escaped bullets and somehow managed to reach Bangladesh even as we saw rapes and murders all around us,” said 30-year-old Habibullah from Mandu area of Rakhine.

It is the women who are more scared to return without assurances and proper security. Newly married 20-year-old Rehana Khatun (name changed) was raped while her husband axed to death in front of her. She had no choice but to flee for the fear of being made sexual slave.

In the camp for last seven months now she is trying to pick up pieces.

She is learning stitching at the camp's vocational training centre and hopes to start afresh some time soon. “I cannot return to be raped again. That day still haunts me. How can I go back without being assured of safety?,” Rehana said.

Madina, 40-year-old, claimed her neighbour Fatima was raped by the Myanmar Army and local police when the ethnic cleansing began. “I have young daughters and I fear for their safety. The scenes of rape, torture, arson and violence is still fresh. I cannot think of going back in the same circumstances,” Madina said. 30-year-old Mumtaz Begum’s 60-year-old mother-in-law was hacked to death forcing her to flee with her husband and eight children.

The NGOs working with these refugees at the camp said that the children and women were the most traumatised when they came to these camps last year but they are stable now.

Shamimul Huq Pavel, camp incharge at Kutupalong, said that repatriation to Myanmar has to be voluntary and no one will be forced out of Bangladesh. “Everyone wants to return to their homes unless they are harmed. They do not want to go the way they came,” said Pavel.

Life in the camp is comfortable and the refugees have been flooded with international aid. Many are taking up small jobs in the camps and the Cox’s Bazaar city while some are making quick money by selling away the extra food they have got from aid agencies to local market.

Almost everyone said that they are saving to start afresh in Myanmar whenever they return.

However, the fact remains that last time in 1971 when a similar exodus happened, less than half returned to Myanmar while rest ended up staying back in various countries where they had taken refuge. “I hope we get to return. There is nothing like your own place,” said  Kamal Hussain, 30, who had a ration shop in Myanmar.