Today, Friday 3rd of January 2019, Rohingyas are commemorating Rohingya National day all over the world.
Rohingya National Day in the Refugee Camp
On this important occasion Mr Nurul Islam, Chairman of the Arakan Rohingya National Organisation said” Rohingya are a people with rich historical heritage and glorious past. They have connections to the high cultures of Bengal, Persia and Arabia and their sublime civilization have had contributed to the peoples of Arakan and Burma. For centuries Arakan prospered, as an independent kingdom, on international trade, brought into its people new ideas and learning, a flourishing civilization with the most cosmopolitan court in modern Burmese history. History testifies that the heyday of Arakan began with the development of Muslim civilization. Yet, today we are not tolerated in the country for our religion, ethnicity and South Asian appearance in contrast to Southeast Asian of dominant Bamar. We are proud of having resemblance with the people of Bengal or the ancient inhabitants of Arakan. We are nevertheless “Rohingya” by history, by culture and by civilization; and a people indigenous to Arakan, therefore, to Burma/Myanmar. “
Mr Islam furthermore thanked the government and people of Bangladesh by stating “Today, Bangladesh is home to more than 1.2 million Rohingya refugees, including those who have been taking refuge over the decades. The Rohingya people are grateful to the people and government of Bangladesh for generously welcoming them, showing solidarity by a bold, merciful and humanitarian gesture despite the economic constraints of this nation. ”
Finally, Mr Nurul Islam addressing to his fellow Rohingya people reminded them – ” We are now in the abyss of our history. We must rise up from this horrible situation for emancipation. National unity is indispensable for our steady victory. Whether we are in the homeland or the in places of refuge we are one national unit. The sacrifice that is demanded of us is not greater than the sacrifice many generations have made. The setback we have faced one after another is not permanent. We never, ever lose hope, and we never lose confidence that we will win one day, Insha-Allah. Remember we do not stand alone. We are not isolated. The freedom-loving and justice upholding people of the world are with us.”
Mr Shaukhat (MSK), Executive Director of Rohingya American Society (RAS) invited all the Rohingyas and general people of Milwaukee and those in the USA to join them in their centre today to commemorate the National Day.
