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.
Every year, we have been carrying the football tournament of our students. It brings unity, peace, remembrance of Arakan and joyous to them. Or every single moment of thier movements needs opportunity to show thier talents to the world.
Photography
Anuwar Sadek ( Social media influencer at Life Destination High School)
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.”
Photo captured by Ayub Khan Dkl during Rohingya young students are demanding the protection from the international bodies
The denial of the Myanmar government has left the Rohingya people deeply concerned as they mark the 8th anniversary of the 2017 atrocities, still holding on to the hope of a dignified return to their ancestral homeland.
Since the country’s independence in 1948, the Myanmar government has systematically excluded the Rohingya from their ancestral lands, stripping them of rights and recognition. Over decades of gradual persecution and orchestrated violence, more than one million innocent Rohingya civilians were forced to flee into neighboring Bangladesh. How can a person survive without land, peace, and dignity? For the Rohingya, 25 August 2017 stands as a dark milestone, the day everything they owned and cherished was destroyed.
Despite living in disorderly, overcrowded refugee camps made of mud and tarpaulin shelters in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, the Rohingya community has not remained silent. They continue to raise their voicesfor justice and equal rights that were unjustly stolen by Myanmar Government.
“We will never stop raising our voices until our rights are restored,” said Sarwah Shah, 22, a Rohingya youth. “We will never let the Myanmar government or the Arakan Army take advantage of our people and our motherland, Arakan State.”
Eight years have passed, yet the international community has failed to bring justice. Mohammed Ayub, 32, a Rohingya activist, reflected:
“Behind every 25 August lies a drop of tears and heartbreak. It reminds us of our sisters being raped, our children thrown into fire, and our homes burnt by the Myanmar military.”
Photo captured by Ayub Khan Dkl, showing Rohingya survivors in tears as they prayed on stage during the 8th Anniversary of Rohingya Genocide Rememberance Day
Ayub also added that to delay justice is not only to ignore genocide but also to silently support the perpetrators in their crimes.
At the same time, the Arakan Army (AA), a Rakhine rebel group has become another source of suffering for the Rohingya, falling like a sudden stone from the sky. While their stated aim is to challenge the Myanmar military, their violence has heavily targeted on innocent Rohingya civilians. Torture, rape, killings, looting, and land seizures have become widespread.
Anuwar Faisal, a private teacher who fled to Bangladesh in 2024, described that the year ” 2024 ” is the worst period in recent memory of Arakan State.
“The Arakan Army conscripted our youths to use them as human shields on the frontlines. They killed more than 5,000 civilians with drone attacks. It was unforgettable.”
For decades, Rohingya Muslims have been denied citizenship by the Myanmar government, effectively confering them stateless. The continued delay in addressing this crisis by the international community only strengthens the hands of the perpetrators and deepens the suffering of the victims.
The Rohingya community urges that silence is no longer an option. The international community must act decisively to end impunity, restore rights, and ensure a just and dignified return for one of the world’s most persecuted peoples like Rohingya.
My name is Muhammad Salim, son of Jahid Hussain and Rajuma Khatun and I am an 18 years old. According to the UNHCR Data based record, there are 12 members in my family. I am the youngest one. I grew up in the Laung Dong Kyung Gaung village ( လောင်းဒုံးကျွန်းဂေါင်းရွာ ), in the northern part of Maung Daw township, Arakan state, Myanmar. However, I have been living as a refugee about eight years in the world’s largest refugee camp in Bangladesh.
Early Life and Education
I was born into a Rohingya family in Myanmar, where our community has long been marginalized and persecuted. My father was a legendary tailor, well known both in voluminous Boli Bazaar and my village while my mother was a dedicated housewife. As a boy, I spent my days playing with my childhood friends, building small shelters with pieces of bamboo and cane, and torn tarpaulin, and enjoying all kinds of games.
However, I was curious, disciplined child and loved learning. I attended kindergarten at Kyung Gaung Primary School in Myanmar. Unfortunately, in 2017, I was forced to flee my homeland with my family after a horrific attack on Rohingya Muslims by the Myanmar Militaries. Arriving in Bangladesh gave me a miserable identity “Refugee” but I have not lose hope. I still carry a big dream in my heart.
At first, my elder brother, Mr Ruhul Amin, taught me from Grade-1 to Grade-8 at my shelter located in Camp-6, Kutupalong. His teaching techniques are truly astonishing. Later, I continued my learning journey in a private organization called ” Mercy Refugee House” funded by Mr Joseph Namin. After studying there for almost 2 years, I enrolled at Life Destination High School in Grade-9. Since 2023, my dream has been moving forward, and soaring like a flower in bloom and emitting the flames brightly to reach achievement one day.
Career and Achievements
In my educational journey, I have been facing with the harsh reality of limited opportunities for Rohingya students in both Myanmar and Rohingya refugee camp. In 2023, through sheer determination and hard work, I secured 2nd position from all of the camps in Cox’s Bazaar, Bangladesh in an “Essay and Letter Writing Competition” organized by Rohingya Youth Initiative-RYI.
Furthermore, by the grace of almighty Allah, I secured first position in Grade-10 at Life Destination High School, as well as being first overall among all students (တစ်ကျောင်းလုံး ပထမ) in the academic year 2024-2025. And also I secured first position in the “Mercy” school. Similarly, I secured first in my all grades. I am excited about my future and look forward to achieving even greater success in my academic pursuits.
Challenges and Struggles
In my mother land, Myanmar, the challenges I faced that put my life and well-being at risk and was subjected to persecution and discrimination by the Myanmar governments and forced to flee to the bordering country, Bangladesh in search of safety and security.
On 10th October 2016, when I was going to school in Myanmar, a sudden military team, facing me directly and asked me stubbornly and ferociously “Does your father involve in any related armed group?” I was shocked and replied with mega confidence “No”. Then, they continued in searching innocent Rohingya in my village to accuse them armed. I overheard that they were shooting into my village on and on and again and again too.
On 25th August 2017, the genocide committed against Rohingya Muslims, Arakan State, northern part of Myanmar. The world described it as a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing” was a systematic campaign of violence and persecution. These included mass killings, rape, torture, and the burning of villages. Countless men, women, and children were brutally murdered, while I and my family were forced to flee our home and seek refuge in neighboring country, Bangladesh.
Final hope
Striving for higher education for Rohingya students is not an easy task. All the opportunities of the further education have no keys to open but I remain focused on my goals and working tirelessly to achieve till reaching it. My story serves as a testament to resilience and determination of the Rohinhya community, who continue to grab for a better future despite the odds stacked against them.
I expect that my academic journey inspires other Rohinhya students to never give up on their dreams and to always keep fighting for a brighter future.
Finally, my journey as a Rohinhya student has been filled with ups and downs, and challenges and triumphs. Despite the obstacles I have faced, I remain committed to using my education to make a positive impact on the world. I will continue to work towards achieving my goals, advocating for justice, and equality for all.
“Mohammed Salim is one of the most dedicated and talented students in our school. His focus is to pen out in writing the other contents and also his own autobiography. “
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.
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.
Life Destination School 