Rohingya Refugee Students Protest in Bangladesh

Today, the voices of tens of thousands of Rohingya students rang out in refugee camps across Bangladesh. Young men and women, full of hope and frustration, gathered in a powerful protest to demand what they have long been denied: a chance to return home to their ancestral land in Arakan (Rakhine State), Myanmar, with dignity and justice.

For generations, the Rohingya have called northern Rakhine State their home. But in 2017, their lives were uprooted when Myanmar’s military unleashed what the United States and human rights organizations have recognized as genocide. Entire villages were burned to the ground, families torn apart, and dreams shattered. For many of these young protesters, Bangladesh’s refugee camps are the only life they’ve known since fleeing the violence. Yet, their chants today carried a clear message: “We want to go home!”

“This isn’t just about going back,” one young protester said. “We want to return to our land, to our homes, with the dignity and rights we deserve. Our parents and grandparents lived there. It’s our identity.”

But the protest wasn’t just about returning to Arakan—it was also about the future. Rohingya students spoke passionately about the severe lack of access to education in the refugee camps. Higher education, a pathway to opportunity for many refugees around the world, remains almost completely out of reach for Rohingya youth.

Ro Mayyu Islam, a young activist questioned the global community: “Why is higher education restricted for us? Refugees everywhere else can study. Why are Rohingya students left behind? Education is the key to everything, and yet we are denied this basic right.”

Their frustration was echoed by a Rohingya human rights activist who urged the international community to act: “This isn’t just about education. It’s about justice. If the world truly cares about human rights, it must stand with these students and ensure they are not forgotten.”

Although Myanmar and Bangladesh have agreements for repatriation, little progress has been made. The Bangladeshi government has consistently pointed to Myanmar’s failure to ensure safety and rights for the Rohingya as the main obstacle. For the students, the delay feels like yet another betrayal.

As the protest ended, the energy in the crowd remained palpable. These young Rohingya many of whom have spent their entire lives in the camps are fighting not just for a return to their homeland but for a chance to shape a future where they are no longer silenced, marginalized, or denied basic rights.

“We are students. We are dreamers. We are Rohingya,” a protester said as the crowd dispersed. “All we want is to go home, to learn, and to live in peace.”

Rohingya Vision News