By: Camp Correspondent
Kutupalong Refugee Camp, Cox’s Bazar — 6 July 2025 |
An 8-year-old Rohingya boy, Ziaur Rahman, has gone missing after falling from a bamboo bridge in Camp-6 around 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, sparking widespread concern about child safety and infrastructure in the refugee camps.
Ziaur was returning home after delivering food to his father, a local shopkeeper, when he reportedly slipped in the rain-soaked darkness and fell into a stream below the fragile bridge. Search efforts are ongoing, but as of now, the boy has not been found.
Ziaur is the first son of Nur Kashim and Sehena Begum and was a Grade 1 student at a UNICEF-supported Jagorani Chakra Foundation (JCF) learning center. He also attended Grade 2 at Modern Education, a community-run school in the camp.
His disappearance has caused deep sorrow and fear among residents, especially among parents who say their children face similar risks daily.
“Our children walk across broken bridges and muddy paths just to help at home,” said a mother in Camp-6. “We’re always worried, but what choice do we have?”
Children Living in Constant Danger
The incident comes just days after 14-year-old Abdullah, son of Halu Mia, was swept away by floodwaters while collecting vegetables near Custom Road on 4 July. His body has yet to be recovered.
These back-to-back tragedies have raised alarm about camp infrastructure, especially unsafe bamboo bridges, which have weakened further due to ongoing monsoon rains. Residents report multiple cases of children falling, getting injured, or disappearing in recent days.
“These accidents aren’t just coincidences. They’re the result of neglect,” said a community elder. “How many more children must be lost before action is taken?”
Education Crisis Deepens
Alongside physical dangers, the education crisis in the camps continues to worsen. Due to international funding cuts, over 6,400 learning centers have shut down, leaving more than 500,000 Rohingya children without access to education.
Ziaur’s learning center—one of the few still operating—faces imminent closure unless additional support is secured. With schools shut down, children spend more time near unsafe roads, flood-prone areas, and makeshift markets, further increasing the risk of accidents.
Last week, Mohammed Reyas, a Class 4 student and recently arrived refugee, was killed in a CNG accident near the border of Camp-8W and Camp-18 while playing near the roadside.
A Call for Urgent Action
The disappearance of Ziaur Rahman is more than an isolated tragedy—it is a devastating reminder of the daily risks faced by displaced children in the world’s largest refugee camp.
Community members and aid workers are calling for:
- Immediate reinforcement or replacement of unsafe bamboo bridges
- Flood-resilient infrastructure in high-risk zones
- Restoration of funding for refugee education programs
- Child protection and awareness initiatives for parents and local authorities
“Every child deserves safety, education, and the chance to grow up in peace,” said a youth volunteer in the camp. “The world must not look away.”
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