In Pictures

In Pictures: Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh two years on

Sunday marks two years since the mass exodus of Rohingya to Bangladesh after Myanmar’s military campaign against them.

A view of Balukhali Rohingya refugee camp. Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera — A view of the Balukhali Rohingya refugee camp. [Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera]

By Faisal Mahmud and Mahmud Hossain Opu

Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh – On a fateful August morning two years ago, Safina Begum, now 23, fled her charred village in Maungdaw district in Myanmar and slogged through marshland and paddy fields for three days to reach the Kutupalong refugee camp in neighbouring Bangladesh.

“They [Myanmar army] killed my father and two brothers in front of my eyes. I ran for my life,” Safina, who has taken shelter in Shalbagan camp for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, told Al Jazeera.

While life in the refugee camps is not easy, Safina said she at least does not have to fear for her life here. “If I go back there, I will die.”

Like Safina, nearly a million Rohingya live in 27 refugee camps in southern Bangladesh.

Most arrived there two years ago when more than 700,000 Rohingya fled to Bangladesh after a brutal military crackdown by the Myanmar army that started on August 25, 2017.

They joined hundreds of thousands of Rohingya who were already living in Bangladesh, having fled earlier waves of violence during the 1970s and 1990s.

Akbar Ali, 52, wants to go back. But he says his daughters, one of whom was allegedly raped by the Myanmar army, are too traumatised to go back.

“My heart cries for my home in Rakhine state. I have spent all of my life there. I used to have farmland. Here I have nothing, living the life of refugees,” said Ali.

A second attempt to return 3,400 refugees last week failed as refugees said they feared going back to Rakhine without a guarantee of citizenship rights and safety.

Kulsum Begum, who lives with her son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren in Shalbagan camp, told Al Jazeera she was content that they have food and shelter in refugee camps.

She said she “doesn’t ask for more from God”.

“I only wish my son had a job, but it’s very hard for a refugee to get one,” she said.

Many Rohingya refugees have started small enterprises in the camps.

Shafiq (who didn’t reveal his surname) was four when he came to Kutupalong camp with his father in 1991.

Now, 32, he runs a tailoring shop inside the Nayapara camp. “I get a lot of orders from the refugees as I can sew the clothes according to the latest fashion trend.”

Shafiq said he can’t remember anything about his homeland.

“I came here as a child. I have lived as a refugee all my life.”

A local market in Balukhali refugee camp where most of the rohingya sell there relief product. Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera — A local market in Balukhali refugee camp where Rohingya sell their products. [Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera]

A young roingya refugee boy run a store at Balukhali camp. Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera — A young Rohingya tends his wares in Balukhali camp. [Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera]

Rohingya refugees are playing football at Balukhali camp. — Two years ago, more than 700,000 Rohingya fled to Bangladesh after a crackdown by the Myanmar army in Rakhine state. [Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera]

Kulsum Begum lives with her grand children in Slabagan refugee camp, said we have food and shelter here, now we dont have to fear of death. Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera — Kulsum Begum with her grandchildren in Shalbagan camp. "We have food and shelter here, and no fear of death," she says. [Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera]

Hamida lives in Salbagan rohingya refugee camp said, i have few family members there but right now i dont know if there alive or not. Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera — Hamida in Shalbagan camp. "I still have few family members there [in Myanmar] but I don't know if they are alive or not." [Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera]

Safina Begum lives in Salbagan refugee camp for said, i dont want to go back there, they killed my family members in front of me, i believe they gona killed us if we go there. Mahmud Hossain Opu/ Al J — Safina Begum lives in Shalbagan camp. "I don't want to go back. They killed my family members in front of me." [Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera]

Akbar Ali said i want to get back my mother land Myanmar, but my others family members they don''t want. Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera — Akbar Ali says he wants to go back to his motherland in Myanmar, but his daughters, one of whom was allegedly raped by Myanmar soldiers, are too traumatised to return. [Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera]

Efforts to return up to 3,450 Rohingya to Myanmar failed last week as they demanded a guarantee of citizenship rights and safety. [Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera]

A group of Rohingya refugees at Balukhali camp. Mahmud Hossain Opu/ Al Jazeera — Rohingya refugees at Balukhali camp. [Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera]

Shafiq came to Bangladesh rohingya refugee camp in 1991. Still now he lives in Nayapara refugee camp and said he dont have any interest to go back there, at list he do some tailoring work in this camp — Shafiq, who fled Myanmar as a child with his father in 1991, lives in Nayapara camp and says he has no reason to go back. [Mahmud Hossain Opu/Al Jazeera]