In the narrow lanes of Camp-11, children chase a punctured football over muddy paths, laughing as if nothing is wrong. But behind each smile is a story of displacement, and behind each child is a future unwritten and unrecognized.
In this episode of “Rohingya on the Move,” we focus on the growing population of Rohingya children born in exile, stateless from birth, many of whom have never seen their homeland or held a valid identity document.
According to UNHCR, over 50% of the Rohingya population in Bangladesh is under the age of 18. Most were born after the 2017 exodus, and many have known only the confines of the refugee camps. With no legal status, no formal access to education, and no national identity, they are growing up in a void—without a state, without a passport, and without a future they can call their own.
No Country to Claim Them
Under Myanmar’s 1982 Citizenship Law, Rohingya are excluded from the list of recognized ethnic groups. As a result, Rohingya children are born stateless even if both parents were born in Myanmar. This denial of legal identity continues even in exile, where host countries like Bangladesh provide temporary registration but no path to citizenship or long-term residency.
“I was born here, but I don’t belong here,” says 15-year-old Mahfuz, who dreams of being a teacher. “They say we are guests, but we have no home to return to.”
In Bangladesh, Rohingya children are not issued birth certificates that recognize them as nationals. Most are given camp-based documentation, which limits their ability to travel, access higher education, or secure any legal protection.
Education in Limbo
While the Bangladeshi government and international agencies have introduced a Myanmar Curriculum Pilot for Rohingya children in the camps, its reach remains limited. According to UNICEF, less than 30% of adolescents are enrolled in formal learning programs.
Language barriers, lack of qualified teachers, overcrowded classrooms, and cultural resistance to girls’ education further complicate access.
“My daughter wants to be a nurse. But we don’t know how long this education will last,” says a mother from Camp-13. “Will Myanmar accept this school? Will Bangladesh?”
The Rise of Child Labor and Early Marriage
With limited education and no right to work, many Rohingya families face impossible choices. Boys often take jobs in informal sectors, including fishing, construction, or camp-based shops, earning a few hundred takas a week. Girls are increasingly vulnerable to early marriage, both as a survival strategy and under social pressure.
In 2024 alone, child protection groups documented a sharp rise in underage marriages and labor exploitation within the camps. These trends reflect not only poverty but also the absence of legal alternatives.
Mental Health, Trauma, and Lost Childhood
Years of confinement and exposure to violence have left deep scars. Many children in the camps exhibit signs of anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Aid workers say the lack of recreational space, constant security presence, and exposure to domestic stress erode children’s sense of normalcy.
“They draw pictures of helicopters, guns, and fire,” says a counselor from a child-friendly space in Camp-5. “Even their games reenact raids.”
A Generation in Limbo
This generation of Rohingya children is growing up between borders—born in exile, denied return, and blocked from integration. Unless bold action is taken, they risk becoming a lost generation, trapped in cycles of dependency, exclusion, and statelessness.
What Needs to Change
- Recognition of Rohingya children’s legal identity and rights under international law
- Expansion of education programs with formal accreditation and higher learning pathways
- Protections against child labor and early marriage
- Mental health and trauma support programs
- Inclusion of youth voices in future repatriation and resettlement dialogues
“We didn’t choose to be born without a country,” says 17-year-old Salma. “But we deserve to have a future.”
