By: Camp Correspondent
Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh – March 30, 2025
As the new moon ushers in Eid-ul-Fitr in Bangladesh, Rohingya refugees in the camps of Cox’s Bazar observe the holy day with quiet prayers and enduring hope—despite ongoing hardship, statelessness, and the pain of separation from their homeland.
“In Arakan, we celebrated Eid in our own villages, with family and dignity,” said Noor Alam, a refugee who fled Maungdaw in 2017. “Now we are trapped in these camps, far from our land, living without rights or freedom.”
Though this is the eighth Eid in exile for many, the longing for justice and return remains unshaken. “Eid reminds the world that we have not disappeared. We are still here, still waiting,” said Fatima Begum, a Rohingya youth activist. “The international community must not forget us.”
Across the camps, Eid was marked by makeshift congregational prayers, simple meals, and reflections on what has been lost. “We left behind our homes, our fields, our mosques,” said Mohammad Ismail, a father of three from Buthidaung. “But even in exile, we hold onto our faith and our identity as Rohingya from Arakan.”
For many, the celebration is not about festivities, but survival and resilience. “This is not a day of joy for us,” said community leader Abdul Karim. “It is a day of remembrance. We remember our homes, our relatives, and the freedom we once had. And we ask the world: do not turn away.”
As they gathered for Eid prayers in the open spaces of the camps, the Rohingya’s collective message was one of peace and perseverance.
“May this Eid be the last one in exile,” said a resident of Camp 5. “May the world hear our plea—for safety, dignity, and the right to return to our ancestral land in Arakan.”
