Bangladesh Sparks New Hopes for the Rohingya

More than a million members of Myanmar’s persecuted Rohingya Muslim minority currently live in Cox’s Bazar refugee camps, having fled violence in their homeland.

“The removal of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has sparked hope among the Rohingya that the new government will refocus attention on their plight. After years of malnutrition and clashes between armed groups within the camps, the Rohingya refugees are desperate for change,” a local resident expressed.

“We and the children are scared at night because of the shootings,” said 42-year-old Shamjida during an interview with AFP.

Rohingya refugees have extremely limited access to education and must rely on food aid, as they are excluded from universities and local job markets. The situation has worsened as international aid dwindles, leaving many students malnourished due to food supply cuts.

“Over 60 refugees have been killed this year amid violent clashes between rival militant groups vying for control of the camps, leaving residents terrified of the constant attacks,” local reports reveal. Shamjida added, “I want peace. We don’t want our children to be scared every day by the sound of weapons. Now that the new government is in place, we hope for peace, food, and safety.”

In an attempt to ease overcrowding in the camps, at least 36,000 Rohingya have been relocated to the cyclone-prone island of Bhasan Char. However, many of them were forced to go, with one refugee describing it as an “island prison in the middle of the sea” in a statement to Human Rights Watch.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, who recently launched an interim government, has promised continued support for the Rohingya community. He emphasized that Bangladesh requires “sustained efforts by the international community” to ensure the protection of the Rohingya people.

Following a private meeting between Yunus and U.S. President Joe Biden, the State Department announced that Yunus received nearly $200 million in funding. It also urged for the expedited transfer of Rohingya refugees to third countries and emphasized the need for their safe return to their original homes.

Despite their long-standing presence in Myanmar, the Rohingya have been treated as illegal immigrants by successive governments, facing decades of systemic discrimination. The security situation in Myanmar has worsened significantly since last year, as fierce fighting continues in Rohingya-majority areas between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army, a local rebel group.

Rohingya Vision News