'We are citizens of Myanmar; they must accept it'

Thousands of Rohingyas raised their voice in support of their return to their homeland in Myanmar during a demonstration in Cox's Bazar on the occasion of Rohingya Genocide Remembrance Day.

Despite the heavy rain, they gathered at a field in Charmore area in Lambasia camp-1 east in the district's Ukhiya upazila this morning.

They prayed and cried for their safe return to the land that has the graves of their ancestors, reports our staff correspondent.

Rohingyas across the world observe Rohingya Genocide Remembrance Day on August 25, commemorating the brutal military campaign beginning this day in 2017 that forced some 750,000 Rohingyas to flee to Bangladesh.

Mohammad Zubair, a Rohingya leader, said the international community should put pressure on the Myanmar military junta to start repatriation as soon as possible.

At the demonstration, another Rohingya leader Kamal Hossain said, "We want back our citizenship from Myanmar. We are citizens of Myanmar. Myanmar must accept it. They will have to repatriate us with full dignity, safety and security. They should do it with the coordination of international community."

Shahid Win, a Rohingya woman, said, "It has already been six years. We are exhausted and don't want to stay anymore in Bangladesh. We demand justice for the genocide."