Border News Agency
Cox’s Bazar – August 24, 2025

Rohingya youth leaders have called for justice, dignity, and a safe return to their homeland during a high-level dialogue held in Cox’s Bazar on Sunday.

The event, titled “Voice of Rohingya: Right to Life, Justice, and Dignified Return to Homeland – Confidence-Building Measures towards a Conducive Environment for the Participants of Rohingya,” brought together Bangladeshi officials, political leaders, diplomats, UN representatives, and international NGOs at Hotel Baywatch.

Speaking at the session, Rohingya youth shared their painful experiences of displacement and persecution in Myanmar. One participant, Furkan Mizan, described life in his homeland as being “trapped inside a cage” where he was denied access to university despite excelling academically. He said the mass exodus in 2017 left his community homeless and stateless.

Another speaker, Sahu Asyus, emphasized that repatriation must be based on rights, not mere relocation. “For us, repatriation is not just about physically returning to our homeland. It is about returning with rights, with dignity. We long to return, but not just to survive,” he told the gathering.

The youth leaders demanded full citizenship rights, accountability for crimes committed against the Rohingya, restoration of homes and livelihoods, and freedom of movement in Myanmar as preconditions for any repatriation.

The dialogue is part of a three-day international conference aimed at renewing global attention on the Rohingya crisis and developing a roadmap for voluntary and sustainable return. Senior UN officials, including Rana Flowers, Nicholas Koumjian, and Raouf Mazou, are attending the conference. Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser, Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, is expected to inaugurate the main session on Monday.

The discussions will focus on humanitarian assistance, justice and accountability, confidence-building measures, and long-term solutions for the nearly one million Rohingya refugees currently living in Bangladesh.