Most Rohingya women and girls living in the refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar want to return to Myanmar if safe repatriation is ensured, according to a new research by ActionAid Bangladesh.
According to the study, whose findings were unveiled at a hotel in Dhaka today (31 August), a majority of women and girls, ranging between 50% to 82% across different camps, have expressed a desire to go back to Myanmar’s Rakhine State, citing emotional, cultural and economic ties with their homeland.
However, younger participants showed more interest in migrating to a third country such as the United States, Malaysia or Saudi Arabia, while some would prefer to remain in Kutupalong camps for access to basic services and family ties.
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None of the respondents chose Bhashan Char due to its isolation and lack of opportunities.
The research, titled “Äarar Héfazot (Our Protection): Echoing the voices of Rohingya women and girls in the face of protection risks,” highlights multiple challenges faced by Rohingya women in the camps.
Sexual harassment was identified as the “biggest concern” across all camps, while child marriage and polygamy were reported as common practices.
Only 7% of women said they could access legal aid independently, and nearly half (48%) recommended counselling programmes for men and boys to change behaviour and reduce gender-based violence.
Speakers at the event emphasised that the findings reflect the real voices of Rohingya women and girls rather than being just data points.
They stressed the urgency of establishing gender-sensitive protection measures, dismantling armed groups’ influence inside camps, improving camp lighting and sanitation facilities, and deploying more female security personnel.
The study was conducted with support from ActionAid UK and People’s Postcode Lottery, in partnership with AGRAJATTRA.
A total of 96 participants, including 66 Rohingya women and girls from Camps 1-East, 8-East, 5 and 30 local women from Ukhiya, took part in the research.
At the event, Md Abdul Alim, head of humanitarian programme at ActionAid Bangladesh, presented an overview of the organisation’s humanitarian interventions.
The key findings and results of the study were then shared by Tamajer Ahmed, manager of policy research and advocacy.
Farah Kabir, country director of ActionAid Bangladesh, said, “Our research was participatory. Rohingya women tried to speak for themselves, and we have attempted to amplify their voices.
“These women have been here for nearly eight years. They took refuge in Bangladesh because of the injustices and atrocities they faced in Myanmar. When they first arrived, there were no proper shelters. Some have been built since then, but violence against them has not decreased; rather, its forms have changed.”
