Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh demand safe return to Myanmar

COX BAZAR, Bangladesh - Tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar gathered in numerous camps across the country on Tuesday to demand their safe return to their home state of Rakhine, nine years after they were displaced due to a government crackdown. They called for the international community to ensure security in Rakhine as they commemorated what they refer to as the "Ninth Anniversary of Rohingya Genocide Day."

Over 1 million Rohingya refugees from Myanmar's ethnic and religious minority now reside in sprawling camps in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar district, located in southeastern part of the country. Most of these refugees fled their homes in a mass exodus in 2017 following a crackdown by the Buddhist-majority Myanmar government in Rakhine, following an attack by a Rohingya Muslim insurgent group.

The Bangladeshi government has tried to initiate repatriation on multiple occasions, but none of the refugees have been willing to return, citing security concerns. The Bangladeshi government has stated it will not force anyone to return. Additionally, on Tuesday, diplomatic missions from 15 countries and the European Union arrived in Bangladesh.