Mohammed Salim, a Grade-11 student of our Life Destination High School , Camp 6, secured third place in the essay writing competition organized by the Rohingya Human Rights Network as part of the 16 Days of Activism. We are proud of his achievement and appreciate the continued dedication of our teachers who guide and support our learners.
Salim is one of the most talented students through the whole Rohingya Refugee Camp, Bangladesh. If Refugee students like Salim would have the opportunity of higher studies, they would definitely secure the global standard achievements like engineers, MBBS, Pilot, Lawyer, Astronomy, scientist and so on. We are greatly in hope of getting opportunity in their future.
Photo captured during Rusana shared her journey crossed the endless struggle in Myanmar
The conflict between the Arakan Army (AA) and the Myanmar military junta has created a deadly trap, one in which Rohingya families are forced to suffer, flee and fight for survival. Among them is 19-year-old Rusana, a newly married young woman whose life was torn apart when her husband, Shohid Alam was abducted and killed by the AA.
Rusana, daughter of Mohammed Islam is from MaungNi village (မောင်နီရွာ) in Maungdaw, Arakan State. At just 16, she married Shohid Alam of Paddang village (ပဒင်ကျေးရွာ) in Southern Maungdaw. Shohid was educated, optimistic and determined to build a better future for their family. Their happiness grew with the birth of a baby boy with joy in the middle of rising unrest.
As fighting intensified between the AA and the military junta, nights became sleepless and homes unsafe. “Hoping to escape brutal attacks, we moved to my parents’ house in MaungNi village,” Rusana said.
Weeks later, on 21 July 2024, during Eid-ul-Adha, Shohid traveled to his native village to meet his brother, recently released from Buthidang Jail after unjust imprisonment during the 2017 crackdown. Many Rohingya, including Shohid had been jailed or sentenced without reason and clear evidence of deliberate persecution.
Shortly after leaving, Rusana received a devastating phone call.
“I was told that my husband along with six others was arrested by the Arakan Army while returning to me. Later, we learned they were killed.” Rusana cried through broken tears
By August 2024, AA artillery assaults targeted Rohingya villages. Rusana’s family fled to Ali Para, seeking temporary safety. But ten days later, the AA captured more than 1,000 people including her family and forcibly gathered them in Pan Taw Phyin village.
They eventually returned to Paddang but arrests of young men became constant. Fearing for their lives, Rusana’s father arranged for the family to cross the Naf River into Bangladesh.
On 15 August 2024, after a dangerous journey, they reached the Bangladesh border. But instead of safety, they were met by gangs of boatmen. “They searched us and took our valuables and even forced me and one of my sisters to be naked. They took 1.5 million MMK and 8.5 ticals of gold hidden in our clothes.” Rusana recounted, “During this abuse, the men in our group were locked away in a dark room.”
With help from a compassionate guide, Rusana and her family eventually reached a relative’s shelter in a refugee camp. Although they escaped immediate danger, new struggles began regarding food shortages, lack of healthcare, insecurity, trauma and the pain of losing Shohid.
Like Rusana, there are many unresearched victims who lost their belongings and family members under the attack of Arakan Army AA. The silence of the world is the dely of justice and peace on Rohingya Muslims in Arakan State in Myanmar.
Our Mid-Term Examination Hall in different centres. Thank you every student for your punctual attendance.
Exam Hall-1, our primary level with over 250 studentsExam Hall-2, our middle level with over 100 studentsExam Hall-3, our middle and high level with 70 studentsExam Hall-4, our high level with 50 students Exam Hall-5, our middle and primary level with 60 studentsExam Hall-6, our primary and middle level with 90 studentsExam Hall at Camp-based Exam Board, our Grade-12 with 15 students
Note:
Our Grade-1 has 110 students but they are invisible in the Exam hall because their Examination is being conducted orally.
The total students of Life Destination High School, Kutupang Refugee Camp, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh is 745 plus.
Name: Robi Alam Date of Birth: 01 August 2003 Place of Birth: Dabinshara Village, Buthidaung Township, Arakan State, Myanmar Religion: Islam
Early Life and Family
My name is Robi Alam. My father’s name is Noor Alam, and my mother’s name is Lalu. I was born into a humble and soft-spoken family in the northern part of Buthidaung Township, Arakan State, Myanmar. I am the eldest among ten siblings.
My father was a team leader of workers and also managed a small shop in our village, while my mother was a housewife. My childhood was simple. I enjoyed playing different games with my friends, especially football, which remains my favorite.
Education and Refugee Life
I began my education at the kindergarten primary school in my village. I was always curious, disciplined, and eager to learn new things. However, my life changed drastically in 2017, when violence against the Rohingya community forced my family to flee Myanmar and take refuge in Bangladesh.
When we first arrived in Bangladesh, a kind man welcomed us with food. That was the moment I realized I had become a “refugee.” Despite this painful reality, I did not lose hope.
In the refugee camp, I continued my studies. From Grade 1 to 5, I studied under Mr. Md Shomin, who also taught me Rohingya language and culture. In 2019, I enrolled at Life Destination High School, where I am now studying in Class 10 with honesty and dedication.
Career and Achievements
Alongside my studies, I pursued opportunities to build my skills. I applied to an INGO called FIVDB and, after an interview, was selected as a teacher. This experience allowed me to contribute to my community by teaching younger children.
In 2022, I participated in a competition organized by CODEC INGO, where I proudly achieved first position among all schools in Camp 06.
Challenges and Struggles
My journey has been marked by great hardship. As a Rohingya, I have faced persecution and discrimination in Myanmar.
On 10 October 2016, while I was in school, the military suddenly arrived and forced us out. Soon after, they burned houses in a nearby village (ဘုန်းတော်ပြင်) and killed many innocent people.
On 25 August 2017, the genocide against my people escalated. Soldiers began killing, raping, and burning houses. I remember a man in my village who was beaten simply for going out to catch fish after 9:00 pm. Terrified, my family and I searched for safety but found none, and finally, with tears and fear, we fled across the border into Bangladesh.
Hope
Today, I live in the world’s largest refugee camp in Bangladesh. Despite the challenges, I remain determined to pursue higher education and to work for a brighter future. My dream is to inspire other Rohingya students never to give up, no matter how difficult life becomes.
Education is my path to freedom, dignity, and hope. I believe it is not just for me, but for all. I will continue to strive with honesty, discipline, and faith to make a positive impact on the world.
Robi Alam, a Grade-10 student from Life Destination High School, begins to write his autobiography and others related true stories after gaining a productive training called “Beginners Writing’s Workshop.”
My name is Sayedul Amin, son of Kamal Hossain and Noor Foraz. I am 17 years old and one of nine members in my family. I was a student in Kyet Yoe Pyin (ကြက်ရိုးပြင်), Northern Maungdaw Township, Arakan State, Myanmar. Life was simple and peaceful, closely tied to nature. I was in grade 2 when I was still in Myanmar. Though our life was small, our hopes were big.
But how could we ever imagine that we would be forced to search for safety from a land that had suddenly become a graveyard, destroyed by the brutal operations of the Burmese military?
On 11 October 2016, my life changed forever when the junta began its campaign of discrimination and violence. It all started on 9 October, when an armed operation began moving from Hawarbil village (ကျီးကန်ပြင်) toward our village, Kyet Yoe Pyin. On that day, some of my neighbors were killed by gunfire, young and old, without distinction. Others were taken by Burmesesoldiers, and to this day, there is no news of them. Tears became our closest companion. Fear flowed like a stream. Our land became venomous, yet hope still lived in our hearts.
On 12 October 2016, we made the painful decision to leave our home. I felt like a motherless child. “Where will we go?” my father asked through tears. No one wanted to leave, but we had no choice. We left behind everything—our belongings, our memories with carrying only fear in our hearts and a faint hope for survival.
That night, we reached a house not far from our village. We spent the whole night hearing gunfire, like rain falling on our fears and the mosquitoes were only night guards. The next morning, the military began going door to door. We hid in silence. The soldiers shouted, “Where are you? Come fight us!” Our hearts felt like they were breaking into pieces, like a landslide falling into sand. We silently wept. Everyone prayed, “Oh Allah, Oh Allah.” After about an hour, the soldiers moved to another home. As soon as they left, we escaped.
Behind us, houses began to burn. Nearly 1,500 homes were destroyed in our village, including the market. We moved from village to village, desperately searching for safety. Gunfire echoed from the north. Everyone took shelter in the paddy fields and under the open sky. As we ran, the cries of the people and the sounds of bullets followed us.
A small stream with a strong current blocked our path. In the grief struck like an earthquake, I lost sight of my parents and other family members. I didn’t know how to swim. My heart broke again. Luckily, a villager heard my cries and helped me cross.
On 15 October 2016, I reached Kya Gon Ton village (ကျားခေါင်းတောင်ရွာ), where by some miracle, I found my family again. But the villagers there were also filled with fear and sorrow. My father, crying as he hugged me, said, “This is the end of my life.”One of my uncles suggested us to ahead to the mountains for safety. But soon, another idea gave us more hope, “It’s better to move to Bangladesh.” He added.
So we began our journey. Along the way, we were hungry, exhausted, and afraid. When we finally reached the border, gunfire broke out again. We were forced to stay one night near the border. That night, grass became our bed, leaves became our food, and melted dew became our water. Mosquitoes were our only companions and their relentless buzzing kept us awake. Many people died that night. I thought: “This stream is their grave, and the fish are now their friends.”
At dawn, we crossed the border into Bangladesh, paying 25,000 MMK per person with the money my parents had saved back home. On 22 October 2016, we reached our final destination: the Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh.
Now, I live as a refugee without home, land, or happiness. I am like a fish without water. A baby without a mother. A bird without a nest and the shelter I sleep in at night is full of mosquitoes and doesn’t allow me a peaceful sleep. I don’t have access to higher education. Sadness is my closest friend in the camp. Yet despite everything, I continue my studies. I currently study in grade 9 at Life Destination High School in Camp 6. I am trying to build a better future, InshAllah (God willing).
My final request to the world is this: Please open your eyes to the Rohingya crisis. Bring us justice. And ensure that Rohingya children like me—have the chance to access higher education.
Note:
Sayedul Amin, a grade 9 students, begins sharing his life struggle through his pen after receiving the recent Beginning Writers’ Workshop organized by Life Destination High School.
The Rohingya Muslims are the persecuted and vulnerable community in the world. Nearest one million Rohingya Muslims fled thier mother land, Myanmar due to genocidal act by the Myanmar Government and Arakan Army and currently taking refuge in the Cox’ s Bazar, Bangladesh. They extremely facing the challenge with many relevant basic needs such as food, health, movement, water, climate change and so on. Water is one of the most challenge for them to reach to their daily home- usage and pure water to drink clearly as the access to water is not enough to cover all the families in Rohingya refugee camp, Bangladesh.
Dried water doesn’t allow Rohingya women inside their shelters. Forcing them to stay in a long queue to fetch the water. A Rohingya man is carrying water after standing for a long moment. Even the children are not able to escape from crisis of water and they are also being forced to stand for water . Water is the main problem for the Rohingya Muslims in Refugee camp, Banglsdesh. These both Rohingya men carrying water for their home-use. Even after standing too long period, this man with litter falling sleep even he is standing When the season is hot, the Refugee camp becomes a plot for fighting of waterMohammad, 8, a Rohingya young boy used his two hands as a cup to drink water as he felt thirsty while he was on the way of his schoolMohammed Anos, 6 years old, a Rohingya child, helping to his pregnant mother by waiting for water beside the water tankNo matter how small a child is, everyone at least try to support to thier parents when they realize how the struggle they face within the waterThis is camp-26, Teknaf, where Rohingya survivors often use the stream water to drink becuase the source of fresh water is unavailable thereThis is what you see is a Rohingya cultral system which they used to drink water on the way of journey when they were in Myanmar A little child is trying to release water from a water-tube
This is Anuwar Sadek, a photographer, writer, teacher and poet from the largest refugee camp, Bangladesh. Through my lens, I love capturing the hardships and emotional inner cry of the Rohingya Muslims and also capturing macro objects like insects and flowers.
Alhamdulillah, a proud and inspiring moment has arrived in the academic journey of Mohammed Ayub Khan, a dedicated student of Life Destination High School in Camp-6, Kutupalong Refugee Camp, Bangladesh. Through unwavering commitment and relentless hard work, he has reached a remarkable milestone — achieving Distinctions in all six subjects in Grade-12 for the academic year 2024–2025.
As the academic year came to an end, Ayub Khan waited anxiously for his results. The examinations had been tough, but his focus and perseverance never wavered. When the results were finally announced, his efforts were rewarded — he was named the top student in his grade and recognized across the entire Refugee Camp in Bangladesh.
This outstanding accomplishment brought him not only immense pride but also deep personal satisfaction. It stands as a shining example that with hard work, perseverance, and faith, anything is possible. His academic success reflects countless hours of study, self-discipline, and the resilience to overcome every obstacle in his path.
Mohammed Ayub Khan is a new arrival from Kyet Yoe Pyin, a village in the northern part of Maungdaw, Arakan State, Myanmar. He completed his earlier grades in Myanmar before continuing his education in the refugee camp. He expresses his heartfelt gratitude to Life Destination High School for providing a supportive and nurturing learning environment that enables him to grow, learn, and thrive.
Looking ahead, Ayub Khan is filled with hope and ambition. He dreams of pursuing higher education, including university studies, to become a role model for his community. He believes that his success can be the first step toward building a brighter future — not just for himself, but for all Rohingya people.
He humbly calls upon the international community to provide greater access to higher education for Rohingya students so that they too can contribute meaningfully to society and realize their full potential.
Rohingya refugees gathered in hope of repatriation during the visit of UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Dr. Muhammad Yunus to Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.
Photo: Rj Sayed Nur
The Rohingya, a Muslim minority group in the northwest of Myanmar, have long endured persecution and oppression. For decades, the Burmese government has subjected them to violence and denied them basic human rights, including access to education, healthcare, employment, and freedom of movement.
Historically, the Rohingya were recognized as one of Myanmar’s 136 ethnic groups, living peacefully alongside the Rakhine people in Arakan State. However, as a minority, the Rohingya faced growing hostility, particularly from the Rakhine community. False accusations and discriminatory attitudes led to their increasing marginalization. These claims were widely accepted by the Burmese government, which resulted in the systematic denial of the Rohingya’s rights and, eventually, the forced displacement of hundreds of thousands of people in 2017.
During a recent visit to Bangladesh, UN Secretary-General António Guterres announced that the United Nations would engage with the Arakan Army AA to negotiate the safe and dignified repatriation of the Rohingya refugees currently in Bangladesh.
However, many refugees have raised concerns about the role of the Arakan Army in the repatriation process.
” Once, the Rakhine people were not part of the Arakan Army but were supporters of the Burmese government. They used hatred, discrimination, and false accusations to strengthen the Burmese government’s power to deny us equal rights. They also created magazines against our people and distributed them to their generations to instill deeper hatred toward us. The Burmese government took this seriously, and as a result, the Rakhine people gained more favors.” Nurul Haque shared his point
Nurul Haque also added that the Burmese government’s trust in the Rakhine people crumbled under the Arakan Army’s dominance. This became the greatest lesson the Rakhine community taught the Burmese government.
Rohingya refugees seek justice from the world and call for a safe return to their homeland.
Photo: Rj Sayed Nur
Md Nur, another refugee, shared his view that the Rakhine community manipulated the Burmese government to further their own agenda.
“Once the Arakan Army was weak, they used the term “Rohingya,” but when they became strong enough to defend themselves, they started calling us “Bengali.” “
He said. “They are our primary enemy, and we cannot accept any repatriation process that puts us under their control and their main focus is to exclude us from our original homes.”
Mohammed Saber, a Rohingya student, emphasized the importance of international intervention for any successful repatriation.
“It will not be possible to repatriate Rohingya refugees from the Bangladesh refugee camps unless the United Nations intervenes and deploys forces to Arakan State. It is crucial for the international community to take concrete action to establish a safe zone in northern Arakan, Myanmar, rather than relying solely on negotiations with the Arakan Army.”
While there is hope for the repatriation of the Rohingya refugees, many recognize that this process cannot proceed without the proper protection and security guarantees. International action is necessary to ensure that the refugees can return to their homeland safely and with dignity, without being subject to further persecution.
Words by Mohammed Anuwar and Photos by Anuwar Sadek
The Rohingya refugee community is facing a dire humanitarian crisis as food rations have been slashed from $12 to just $6 per person. This drastic cut is not merely a funding issue—it is a direct consequence of the escalating global climate crisis. Extreme weather events are disrupting aid supply chains, reducing global food production, and worsening the already fragile conditions in the refugee camps. Here’s how the climate crisis is impacting our community and why urgent action is needed:
1. Climate Disasters Disrupting Aid Delivery Flooding and Landslides
Heavy monsoon rains frequently wash away roads, damage infrastructure, and make it nearly impossible for aid trucks to reach the camps. Violent storms disrupt supply chains, delay food shipments, and leave the community even more vulnerable to hunger. Extreme heat and prolonged droughts are reducing global food production, increasing food prices, and making it harder for aid agencies to meet refugees’ needs
2. Global Food Shortages and Rising Costs
Climate change is devastating agriculture worldwide, causing crop failures and supply chain disruptions. Food prices are skyrocketing due to droughts, floods, and extreme weather, forcing humanitarian organizations to reduce aid budgets. As a result, Rohingya refugees now receive just $6 in rations per person—barely enough to survive.
3. The Impact on Rohingya Refugees
Families are skipping meals or surviving on inadequate nutrition, leading to widespread malnutrition. Malnourished children, pregnant women, and the elderly are at high risk of illness, while weakened immune systems make diseases spread faster.
4. Broader Consequences of Ration Cuts
Desperate for survival, many are at risk of exploitation, child labor, and human trafficking. Scarce resources are fueling conflicts within the camps, further destabilizing an already fragile situation.
5. A Call for Immediate Action The international community must recognize the climate crisis as a direct cause of worsening refugee conditions. Immediate funding is needed to restore food rations and prevent further hunger-related deaths. Long-term solutions must include climate resilience strategies, sustainable aid distribution, and stronger global commitments to refugee rights
Conclusion The ration cut from $12 to $6 is not just a statistic—it’s a life-threatening reality. The climate crisis is no longer a distant threat; it is here, and it is pushing the Rohingya community to the brink of survival. We urge the world to act now before it is too late. Our lives depend on it.
” An insightful article by Mohammed Anuwar, a young Rohingya climate change activist working in the UNHCR environmental sector and also a grade-12 student of our Life Destination High School.”
Nurul Amin, 17 years old, son of Sayed Nur from Kamaung Seik, Northern part of Maungdaw, Arakan State in Myanmar. In 2017, Amin along with his parents left his homeland due to a horribly genocidal act on the Rohingya minority conducted by the brutal Burmese Militaries and arrived at Kutupalong, the largest refugee camp in Bangladesh.
” In Myanmar, when I was a child, I attended to a primary school in my village and It was the most challenging period for me as the school was so far from my house and it took me hours to reach at it. During rainy days, I was completely wet while I was on the way of my school. However, I hardly managed class 2 in my homeland before 2017.” Nurul Amin claimed
In 2017, the raping, discrimination, torturing, killing innocents, throwing children into fire, burning the houses and so on operated by the Burmese militaries forced over 1 million Rohingya people from their homes and fled to a bordering country, Bangladesh and took refuge in the forests of Cox’s Bazar and Teknaf. “ My legs became disable and unable to walk on while we were crossing the mountains, villages, barbed fence and river on Aug 2017.” Amin added.
Many elderly people and young children endured unbearable struggle to find a peaceful life on those days, leaving the homes. On their way of Bangladesh, they fought starvation as they took nothing from their homes.
“ It took us two days to travel through the hills for reaching Bangladesh and had nothing to eat and sometimes we needed to pinch our stomachs to relieve the suffering of hunger.” Amin expressed
After being a refugee in the largest refugee camp, Cox’s Bazar, he became a dreamless boy and received no opportunity to continue his study. With guidelines regarding learning forced him toward useless and wasted his time without doing anything for years. Finally, his father, Sayed Nur has open a small shop near his shelter and it starts working for the entire family. “ At the last, my father made me a shopkeer and selling it every morning and evening.” Amin said
” When I was 15, one opportunity from the Life Destination High School offered me to continue my educational journey and I have been attending the class from grade-3 since 2023. It is the hope and building a dream to catch my destination through this learning platform.” He added
There are many young Rohingya children who have no opportunities to make their life and build their future by studying in the Rohingya refugee camp. Offering a formal educational opportunities bring the peace and successes in which people can enjoy their lifetime and make the community develop. The international community must focus to restore the higher education for the Rohingya students in Refugee camp, Bangladesh.
Life Destination School 