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Organisations, humanitarian actors call for repatriation roadmap on 8th Rohingya anniversary

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Local and national organisations, along with humanitarian actors, on Sunday urged a clear roadmap on Rohingya repatriation, saying Cox’s Bazar cannot host any more refugees.

They stressed that repatriation remains the only sustainable solution to the crisis, as Bangladesh marks the eighth anniversary of the mass influx of Rohingyas.

The call came from a webinar titled “Forcibly Displaced Rohingya in Bangladesh: Steps Towards Dignity, Safety and Sustainable Solutions” organised by COAST Foundation and the Cox’s Bazar CSO-NGO Forum (CCNF).

The session was conducted by Mustafa Kamal Akand, Director of COAST, and Jahangir Alam, Member Secretary of CCNF.

Presenting the keynote, Md Shahinur Islam, Assistant Director of Humanitarian Response at COAST, said that 1.14 million Rohingya remain fully dependent on aid.

With funding cuts forcing reductions in assistance, he urged stronger international pressure on Myanmar’s military for accountability in genocide and crimes against humanity.

Speakers expressed concerns over law and order, crime, and rising pressure on the host community.

Advocate Saki A Kawsar claimed that Rohingyas are linked to drug trafficking, human trafficking, and court case backlogs, suggesting a separate judicial system.

Union leaders Noor Ahmad Anwari and Mojaffar Ahamed stressed the need for employment schemes and fair fund allocation for locals, warning that cuts in aid will worsen tensions.

Other speakers, including journalists, NGO representatives, and community leaders, called for water security, camp safety, regional advocacy, and long-term food security, while unanimously pressing for repatriation as the only permanent solution.

 

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