Farid Ullah, in his fifties, among the United Nations (UN) estimated nearly 300,000 refugees, fled Myanmar’s violence-hit Rakhine State and entered Bangladesh crossing the border on 9 September morning.

Hundreds of more traumatized and exhausted Rohingyas arrived on boats and took shelter on the two sides of Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf Marine Drive Road, which was recently opened by the Bangladesh government, near the Bangladeshi border village of Shaplapur.

As the two other Rohingya shelter camps—Kutupalang and Balukhali— have already exceeded its capacities, new arrivals are crowding in the roadside area, which causes huge traffic congestions on the main road. The movement of vehicles increased; as many of those are carrying relief materials from different parts of the country with regular aid vehicles. Rohingyas are seen running behind relief-laden vehicles, mainly organised by individuals.

During the conversation, Farid Ullah started to portray his tormenting testimony of torture, murder, rape and widespread arson attacks carried out by Myanmar’s army. He has also urged the journalist to carry his message and immense agony to the international community.

‘The Burma army men, along with some local Buddhists, forcefully picked up my daughter, raped, hacked her to death.’

‘My only daughter, Rahela, who got married four months ago, was picked up by the Burma army men along with some local Buddhists. After torching their home, the army men shot her husband dead. I think that they tortured my daughter and then killed her,’ said Farid Ullah.

Farid, who was a father of three children and a farmer in a village of Rakhine State, just like other Rohingyas there, said, ‘We know, the world is keeping their eyes on us. Please tell the people around the world that whether they would have been kept silent if they could face the shocking experiences I have brought with me here. No one is placing pressure on Myanmar government to stop looting, killing and torture. Take action against Myanmar as they are killing us.’

‘We want justice, and we want to survive, want our rights to work and education back. We do not have any existence as a part of the world and survive even though we do not have any freedom.  We just got through life, one day at a time,’ added the Rohingya man.

He said, ‘I have fled to Bangladesh as the Myanmar army and local Buddhists came into our village, started shooting at us and setting our houses on fire, one by one. We would have been killed as well if we had not to set our journey here through hiding at the jungles and walking for five days and crossing the river.’

He said, ‘We just arrived yesterday (9 September) in a boat. We aren’t alone. We’re around 50 people from the same village who entered Bangladesh in two boats.’

‘Now we can think that our life is safe here at least. Please cooperate us so that we can go back home after peaceful atmosphere. We are also human beings and want to live peacefully and freely.’

Not only Farid but most of the Rohingya refugees also testify that maximum Rohingya unmarried girls and women have experienced violence at the hands of the military and more than half reported being raped.

‘Many of the men have been detained or killed. Women have experienced tremendous sexual violence—but sometimes they broke down even more when they talked about their missing husbands.’

More than 1,000 people have been killed in Myanmar, most minority Rohingya Muslims, more than twice the government’s total. In the last two weeks alone 270,000 mostly Rohingya civilians have fled to Bangladesh, overwhelming refugee camps at Ukhia and Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar that were already bursting at the seams.

The Rohingya have long been subjected to discrimination in mostly Buddhist Myanmar, which denies them citizenship. The Rohingyas are a stateless Muslim minority who has faced extreme poverty for decades.

The Burmese military entered northern Rakhine state—and over the next four months detained and killed men, women and children. The army men burned down houses and raped women and young girls. The UN report says these actions amount to possible crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing.