Eight years have passed since the Rohingya Muslims were forced to flee Myanmar due to violence. The Myanmar military, known as the Tatmadaw, conducted operations that resulted in the persecution and murder of Rohingya people in 2017-2018. This led to a mass migration of Rohingya to countries like Bangladesh and India.
The United Nations has designated the Rohingya as the world’s most persecuted minority. Bangladesh is currently sheltering around 1.3 million Rohingya refugees in various camps. Many Rohingya refugees marked the eighth anniversary of their displacement, with a call for safe repatriation to their homes in Rakhine State. The ongoing conference is focusing on the rights and justice for the Rohingya people.
Since November 2023, approximately 1.5 million Rohingya have entered Bangladesh. The overall Rohingya refugee population in Bangladesh now stands at a minimum of 1.324 million. Approximately 25,000 to 30,000 Rohingya are attempting to enter Bangladesh. There are also about 30,000 births in these camps every year.