Rohingya mark 5th anniversary of exodus to Bangladesh

By JULHAS ALAM
Associated Press

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees are marking the fifth anniversary of their exodus from Myanmar to Bangladesh. Bangladesh’s home minister has urged the international community to pressure Myanmar to ensure that the ethnic minority Rohingya can return home safely. The United Kingdom has announced a further round of sanctions targeting military-linked businesses in Myanmar. Ahead of the anniversary, the United States, European Union and other Western countries pledged to support the refugees’ pursuit of justice in international courts. More than 1 million Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh over the past several decades, including about 740,000 who crossed the border starting in 2017 after Myanmar’s military launched a crackdown following a rebel attack.