The Rohingya Life Struggle in Bangladesh Refugee Camp

Abstract

Description:
This paper examines the enduring struggles of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. Through interviews with community leaders and analysis of secondary data, it highlights challenges in food security, health, education, income, and safety. The research combines qualitative insights with documented humanitarian data to provide a comprehensive assessment of their living conditions.

Introduction

Description:
The Rohingya, a Muslim ethnic minority in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, have faced systematic persecution for decades, including denial of citizenship, discrimination, and repeated violence. Large-scale exoduses occurred in 1978, 1991–1992, and most recently in 2017, when a military campaign forced over 742,000 Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh. Since that genocidal campaign, Bangladesh has hosted 1,156,001 refugees (UNHCR, July 2025), with an additional 150,000 new arrivals over the past 18 months, reflecting ongoing displacement due to continued instability in Myanmar.

These refugees are settled across 33 camps in Cox’s Bazar and on Bhasan Char Island, facing insufficient humanitarian aid, restricted movement, limited access to education and healthcare, and severe protection risks. This study examines the life struggles of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, combining interviews with community leaders, activists, scholars, and researchers alongside secondary data from humanitarian reports, to provide a comprehensive understanding of their current realities.

Literature Review

Description:
The literature consistently reports that Rohingya refugees face chronic deprivation, systemic abuse, and educational deficits. Many authors highlight the interplay of restricted freedoms, insufficient aid, and risks of malnutrition and violence. Leaders and activists concern the importance of formal education, income opportunities, and protection in mitigating long-term suffering.

Methodology

Description:
This research uses a mixed-methods approach, triangulating primary interviews with secondary sources. Interviews provided insider perspectives on daily struggles, while secondary data offered validated humanitarian statistics. Combining these methods ensures reliability and comprehensive understanding of refugee challenges.

Framework of the Research

Description:
The framework integrates human rights, social justice, and humanitarian perspectives to analyze the complex interplay of legal, social, and environmental factors affecting Rohingya refugees. It guides data collection and interpretation across multiple dimensions of refugee life.

Problem Statement

Description:
Despite significant humanitarian attention, gaps remain in understanding the lived experiences of Rohingya refugees, particularly regarding income generation, food security, and education. This study aims to fill these gaps using primary interviews and verified secondary sources.

Data Analysis

Description:
Data reveal multifaceted challenges, including reduced food rations, limited income opportunities, and inadequate education. Interviews with Rohingya leaders and activists provided firsthand accounts, complementing secondary statistics and observations, offering a holistic picture of life in the camps.

Discussion

Conclusion

Rohingya refugees continue to struggle with malnutrition, restricted mobility, poor education, and unsafe living conditions. Humanitarian aid alone is insufficient. Integrated approaches combining food security, education, income opportunities, and protection measures are critical to enhancing their quality of life.

References

• Cox’s Media Statement, January 2023
• Youth Congress Rohingya, September 2023
• Fortify Rights, 2022 Report
• NGO Platform, Cox’s Bazar, 2023
• Human Rights Watch (HRW), 2022–2023
• UNICEF Education, 2023
• UN Refugees.org, 2023
• The prolonged suffering of Rohingya refugee in Bangladesh and India (Mr Kaisayr Husein-2022).
• The Restrictions of Rohingya children from attending the host communities’ schools (Mr Kaiser Komor-2024)
• Smith, J. Forced Migration and Refugee Studies, Routledge, 2020
• Brown, L. Humanitarian Crises in South Asia, Oxford University Press, 2019

Appendix – Key Informants (Anonymized for Security Reason)

Description:
These leaders and activists provided key insights into refugee life, including food security, education, safety, and livelihood challenges. Their perspectives inform both primary data collection and interpretation, enhancing the authenticity and relevance of the research.

About the Author

Mr Mohammad Solim holds a B.Sc. in Botany and graduate of the RAR Institute. He serves as a community teacher in Rohingya refugee camps, supporting the education of displaced children and youth in challenging conditions. Mr Solim is also an active human rights defender, advocating for the protection, dignity, and rights of the Rohingya community. His academic training, combined with lived experience as a refugee, allows him to link research with real-world struggles. Through his teaching and advocacy, he contributes to resilience-building, amplifying refugee voices, and raising global awareness of the Rohingya crisis.