Rohingya demand safe repatriation during US envoy visit to Bangladesh

Hundreds of Rohingya refugees gathered in Camp 8W at Cox’s Bazar on 31 July 2026 as U.S. Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs Sergio Gor, accompanied by Ambassador Brent T. Christensen, toured the camps. Demonstrators organized by the United Council of Rohingya called for a voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return to Myanmar’s Rakhine State, insisting on full citizenship, equal rights, security and international protection. One protester said, “Our return to Arakan must be voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable… without these, repatriation cannot be a real solution.”

The U.S. delegation observed humanitarian programmes funded by Washington, which is one of the largest donors to the camps. Rohingya appealed for continued U.S. support to facilitate their safe and dignified repatriation. Officials noted that more than 1.4 million registered Rohingya remain in 33 camps across Ukhia and Teknaf, with no repatriations completed in nine years, and that an average of seven to ten new arrivals enter Bangladesh each day. The suspension of repatriation and reports of some Rohingya involvement in criminal activities have heightened tensions with the host community.