Bangladesh Election Has Little Impact on Rohingya Refugees Lives

Bangladesh’s Rohingya Refugee Camps Prepare for Upcoming Elections

A Bangladeshi government official recently made announcements in a Cox’s Bazar refugee camp, instructing residents to keep their shops shut and not participate in the upcoming February 12 elections. Those found engaging in political campaigns would face “serious punishment,” including loss of registration cards and access to subsidized rations.

The camps, home to over 1 million Rohingya refugees who fled Myanmar in 2017, have been a subject of controversy during election season. The refugees were initially welcomed by Bangladesh’s government under then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, but their living conditions remain limited.

In the Balukhali Rohingya Refugee camp, a community-run private school operates with financial support from the United Nations and global aid agencies. The school provides education to 80 children, including 19-year-old Mahmudul Hasan, who teaches Burmese, English, and math.

Nay San Lwin, a diaspora leader of the Rohingya, stated that while Bangladesh’s government has been supportive, the country’s policy of “non-integration” means the refugees remain on the periphery of society. The camps are fenced with barbed wire, and Rohingya children cannot access the formal education system.

The International Court of Justice is currently investigating the massacre of the Rohingya in Myanmar as a possible genocide. In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against Myanmar’s military chief, Min Aung Hlaing, accusing him of committing crimes against the Rohingya in 2017.

As Bangladesh prepares to elect its next government, Rohingya refugees like Hasan are aware that they are not real stakeholders. Despite limited education, health, rations, livelihood options, and freedom of movement, some hope remains for improvement. Candidates from the two main political fronts have spoken about the community’s concerns, giving Hasan a glimmer of hope.

Source: Al Jazeera