Ro Maung Shwe | Cox’s Bazar Refugee Camp, Bangladesh
In the refugee camps of Cox’s Bazar, Eid al-Fitr arrives not with the comfort of homeland traditions, but with a mixture of faith, patience, and longing. For the Rohingya community living in the camps, Eid is not only a religious celebration marking the end of Ramadan. It is also a painful reminder of displacement, loss, and the unfulfilled hope of returning to their ancestral land in Arakan, Myanmar.
Preparation for Eid in the Camps
In the days leading up to Eid, Rohingya families begin preparing as much as their limited conditions allow. Inside crowded shelters made of bamboo and tarpaulin, mothers clean their small spaces, wash old clothes, and try to arrange something special for their children.
Unlike in their homeland, most families cannot afford new clothes, sweets, or meat for the celebration.
Markets inside the camps become busier as people search for the cheapest items they can find. Some humanitarian aid distributions provide small food packages, but these are often not enough to recreate the joy of Eid as it was once known.
A father of five children in Camp-2W said, “In Arakan, before Eid we used to buy new clothes for every child, prepare many foods, and visit relatives. Here in the camp, we try to celebrate, but our hands are empty. Still, we thank Allah that we are alive.”
Rohingya Eid Culture and Traditions
For the Rohingya people, Eid has always been a time of strong community connection. In Arakan, families would wake up early, wear new clothes, perform Eid prayers together, and visit relatives and neighbors throughout the day. Elders would give gifts and money to children, and large meals were shared among families.
Even in the camps, the community tries to hold on to these traditions. On Eid morning, thousands gather in open fields to perform prayers. Afterward, people embrace each other and say “Eid Mubarak,” often with tears in their eyes as memories of their villages return.
An elderly refugee from Maungdaw Township shared, “Our real Eid is in Arakan. There we had land, cattle, farms, and relatives. We celebrated without fear. Here we pray, but our hearts are still in our homeland.”
Hope for Repatriation and Unfulfilled Promises
Last year, hope spread widely among Rohingya refugees following statements made during high-level visits to the camps by Muhammad Yunus, former Chief Adviser of the interim Government of Bangladesh, along with António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Many refugees recall hearing words that made them believe repatriation could happen soon. Some say they were told that the next Eid might be celebrated in Arakan, which created a strong sense of anticipation across the camps.
An elderly community leader said, “When we heard that next Eid we might celebrate in Arakan, the whole camp became happy. We thought our suffering was finishing. But another year has passed, and we are still here waiting.”
Another elderly man said, “Before I die, I want to pray Eid in my village again. Even if my house is destroyed, the soil of Arakan is still my home.”
Children Growing Up with Limited Joy
For Rohingya children who have spent most of their lives in the camps, Eid is shaped more by limitation than celebration. The stories told by their parents about life in Arakan feel distant and difficult to imagine.
A 12-year-old boy said, “My father told me in Myanmar they celebrated Eid with many foods and new clothes. Here sometimes we don’t even have new sandals. If we were in our country, Eid would be happier.”
A young girl said quietly, “On Eid, I want to wear a new dress like other children, but my parents cannot buy it. I wish we could go back to Arakan and celebrate there.”
Parents say that illness, lack of income, and restricted opportunities make it difficult to give their children even a small sense of celebration.
Faith, Patience, and the Dream of Return
Despite these hardships, the Rohingya community continues to observe Eid with faith and patience. Mosques and prayer grounds fill with people asking for peace, justice, and the chance to return home with dignity and safety.
For many refugees, Eid is not only a day of celebration, but also a day of prayer for repatriation. The hope of returning to Arakan remains alive among the elderly, the parents, and even children who have never seen their homeland.
As one elderly refugee said after Eid prayer, “We celebrate Eid here because we must, but our real happiness will be the day we celebrate Eid again in Arakan.”
