By: Camp Correspondent
April 11, 2025 | Rohingya Refugee Camps, Cox’s Bazar
While the Joint Biometric Verification (JBV) and documentation update process continues across the Rohingya refugee camps in Nayapara and Kutupalong, a notable segment of the refugee population is refraining from participating—not out of defiance, but out of fear of erasure.
These refugees say they are concerned not with the fingerprint or iris scan, but with what is being taken off the paper: the word “Rohingya.”
“Without the word ‘Rohingya’ on our documents, it feels like our identity is being erased all over again. This is not just paperwork—it’s our history, our voice, our existence,” said a young refugee from Kutupalong, requesting anonymity.
From Identity to Invisibility
Historically, Rohingya refugees registered with the United Nations and Bangladeshi authorities received cards that explicitly mentioned their ethnic identity as “Rohingya” and referred to their place of origin in “Arakan”—the traditional name for Myanmar’s Rakhine State.
However, the new version of documentation, according to those who have seen it, reportedly omits or modifies these terms. This shift, though subtle, has triggered deep anxiety within a population that has already endured systematic erasure by the Myanmar state.
“We are not refusing biometric registration. We are asking for recognition,” said a community elder from Nayapara Camp. “If you take away ‘Rohingya’ from our papers, what remains of us? A fingerprint without a name?”
For many, this isn’t a debate about terminology—it is a struggle to hold onto the last official acknowledgment of their existence as a people.
Fear for the Future
The issue is not symbolic alone. Refugees argue that accepting documentation without the term “Rohingya” may weaken future claims to repatriation, justice, and international protection.
“If we accept these new documents, the world will later say we agreed to be called something else,” said a young Rohingya community organizer. “This is how identity disappears—not in war, but in silence.”
Caught Between Necessity and Principle
Many refugees are torn: the biometric update is tied to the continuation of aid and movement tracking. Not registering could affect access to basic services, but accepting identity-stripped cards feels like surrender.
“We want to comply, but not at the cost of our dignity,” said a teacher in Camp 5. “We fled a country that denied our name. We don’t want to live in another place where that name is quietly removed.”
Agency Responses and Silence
Humanitarian organizations involved in the biometric process—including UNHCR and the Government of Bangladesh—have acknowledged the rising concerns. Community consultations are reportedly ongoing.
However, no official statement has yet been issued regarding whether the concerns around identity terminology will be addressed or the documentation format revised.
Meanwhile, the affected group remains in limbo: neither registered under the new system, nor reassured that their identity will be honored.
Why Names Matter for a Stateless People
For the Rohingya, who have long been denied citizenship, education, and representation in Myanmar, the right to self-identify is not a matter of pride—it is a matter of survival.
“In Myanmar, they denied our name and then denied our rights. If it happens again here, even on paper, we fear we will lose everything,” said a Rohingya woman from Camp 17.
International law—including UN conventions—recognizes the right of individuals to self-identify. But for stateless people like the Rohingya, this right often conflicts with bureaucratic processes designed for neutrality or host country sensitivities.
A Deeper Crisis of Recognition
The situation unfolding in Cox’s Bazar reveals a deeper crisis: what happens when documentation becomes depersonalized, and when recognition of identity is seen as optional, not essential.
As one humanitarian policy advisor noted, “This is not just about a word. It’s about legitimacy, dignity, and narrative. Remove that, and you remove the foundation of their collective struggle.”
