Event Report: National Seminar – From Vulnerability to Resilience: Assessing Security Risks and the Role of Livelihoods in Rohingya Camps

The study findings also highlight that participation in existing livelihood programs does not significantly reduce structural exclusion or perceived insecurity among camp residents. This may be attributed to the limited access to, and availability of, meaningful livelihood opportunities within the camp setting.

Researchers emphasized that while livelihood initiatives are valued by refugees, their current scale and economic impact may be too limited to meaningfully transform everyday living conditions within the camps. Qualitative interviews conducted with refugees and community leaders further highlighted several pressing challenges faced by camp residents, including uncertainty about the future, limited employment opportunities, and psychological stress associated with prolonged displacement. Youth vulnerability, gender-related protection concerns, and tensions surrounding resource distribution were also identified as important issues affecting camp stability.

Speakers at the seminar emphasized that addressing insecurity in refugee camps requires a holistic approach that considers both material conditions and psychosocial well-being. Expanding meaningful livelihood opportunities, strengthening community cohesion, and improving access to education and psychosocial support services were identified as key areas for policy attention.

The seminar was structured into two main sessions. The first session featured research presentations and guest remarks.

Professor Amir Mohammad Nasrullah, University of Chittagong moderated the session. The research was presented by Dr Emadul Islam, Senior Research Fellow, Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Japan and Dr Mohammad Zainuddin, Australian National University.

The discussants highlighted the complex humanitarian situation of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, noting a decline in international aid support and the need for sustainable solutions. Emphasis was placed on the importance of providing limited livelihood strategies to reduce dependency. It was pointed out that even though there are many stakeholders in the international community, there is no international congress for refugee management and dealings, suggesting a potential role for the international community which remains inconsistent and unstable in addressing refugee situations around the world.

• A panelist argued that skills development programs ignore Bangladesh’s massive labor surplus and high unemployment, creating political friction. The question was posed: Skills building for whom? Future research must address the gap between labor surplus and the skills being developed.
   
• The crisis was described as not bilateral but regional, involving Chinese and Indian infrastructure interests. Employment spillovers risk being framed as security threats, fueling populist agendas.
   
• The crisis was described as an “identity-resource crisis complex.” Sustainable repatriation requires land reform in Rakhine—without land rights, return is meaningless. Rakhine lacks civil society, institutional capacity, and alternative economic structures; Bangladesh could provide political economy support, not just security cooperation.
   
• A consensus emerged on the need to move from a security-centric view to a market-centric and political economy framework. Scenario planning for Cox’s Bazar—particularly if displacement prolongs and regional powers become more involved—was identified as essential.

Mr. Asad Alam Siam, Foreign Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Bangladesh, emphasized that the Rohingya crisis originates in Myanmar and must be resolved there, firmly rejecting any notion of long-term settlement in Bangladesh, as it risks legitimizing ethnic cleansing and undermining prospects for repatriation. He also called for regional and international cooperation to address cross-border challenges and create conditions in Rakhine, reaffirming that sustainable solutions depend on ensuring a conducive political and economic environment for safe repatriation.

Dr. Md. Arifur Rahman, Founder and Chief Executive, Young Power in Social Action (YPSA), reiterated that “We need to make investment in youth, provide psychosocial support and meaningful economic participation for individual dignity in Rohingya camps and YPSA as a Bangladeshi local organization remains committed to this cause.” He also thanked all for taking time to actively participate in this important event which portrays the commitment of everyone on Rohingya issues to find solutions.

The second session featured a high-level panel discussion and open discussion.

Moderator: Dr Emadul Islam

The session addressed the prolonged Rohingya crisis and global failure, noting that over the past 40–45 years, both Bangladesh and the international community have failed to ensure basic human rights and justice for the Rohingya. The discussion emphasized that the Rohingya situation is not only a humanitarian issue but also a broad security concern, including non-traditional dimensions such as social instability, economic deprivation, environmental degradation, and risks of conflict within and around the camps. With around 52% of the Rohingya population being youth growing up without proper education or opportunities, there is a concern about a “lost generation,” which may increase long-term instability.

Key points included how structural exclusions like restrictions on movement and limited economic participation contribute to rising insecurity, and how the camps face recurring challenges such as COVID-19 impacts, natural disasters, fires, and violence. Research findings indicate a strong desire for repatriation among the Rohingya, though practical progress has been extremely limited. The session also noted policy contradictions in livelihood support, host community tensions, environmental and security challenges, barriers to repatriation due to instability in Myanmar, and limited progress in diplomatic efforts, highlighting the need for practical solutions and global action.

Mr. Ivo Freijsen, UNHCR Country Representative, Bangladesh, highlighted that the Rohingya crisis has become a protracted and increasingly complex situation, with limited prospects for repatriation in the near term due to political constraints in Myanmar, declining global attention, and reduced humanitarian funding. He also emphasized growing challenges on the ground, including rising refugee population, increased vulnerability, youth frustration, and cross-border security risks, all compounded by funding shortages and insufficient international burden-sharing.

An open floor session followed the initial presentations. A speaker with five years of experience in the Rohingya response posed critical questions regarding the socioeconomic impact on Bangladeshi host communities and the sustainability of current humanitarian approaches.

Key points raised by the questioner included a disconnect between research and ground realities, noting that while the presented research focused on Rohingya vulnerability, it failed to address the parallel vulnerability of the host community. He emphasized that after seven years, there is a lack of data on key indicators such as job creation, unemployment rates specific to Cox’s Bazar versus national averages, and the economic displacement of locals. He highlighted recent protests by Bangladeshi job card holders as evidence of rising local frustration and referenced a 2018 FAO study indicating that local people had already been forced to change their livelihoods due to the influx. The questioner posed direct queries to the panel and international community: How many jobs have been created for Bangladeshis in the last seven years? How many Bangladeshis will be economically displaced by efforts to include Rohingyas in the local economy? He argued that solutions cannot be found solely within the camps and that Myanmar is a “land of ethnicities,” stressing that any sustainable solution requires understanding how other ethnic groups participate in the political architecture.
 
The panelists acknowledged the urgent need to shift the discourse from a narrow humanitarian lens toward a broader labor market perspective, emphasizing that the Rohingya crisis must be understood through the dual framework of an “identity and resource crisis.” In response to criticism, one panelist clarified that the research did not seek to dismiss the burdens faced by host communities; rather, it aimed to critically examine existing approaches in order to address emerging security risks more effectively.

He highlighted a critical demographic reality: approximately 52% of the Rohingya population is under the age of 18, representing nearly half a million young people who will enter the labor market in the coming years. He warned that without strategic planning to address this demographic pressure, the current humanitarian challenge could evolve into a major security and economic crisis for the host ecosystem.

The seminar featured remarks from policymakers and humanitarian stakeholders, including representatives from the Government of Bangladesh and international organizations working on the Rohingya response. Other high-level participants included Mr Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, Commissioner Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC) at Cox’s Bazar, Mr Tomohide Ichiguchi, Chief Representative, JICA Bangladesh, Dr. Hasan Reza, Associate Professor, Indiana University, USA, Dr Nasir Uddin, Professor, University of Chittagong, Bangladesh, and Dr Abu Bakar Siddiqui, Royal University, Dhaka. The importance of continued international cooperation to ensure sustainable humanitarian support while pursuing long-term solutions, including repatriation, was emphasized throughout the event.