They have left their village so as their country. Somehow saved their life and came in Bangladesh. They could not bring anything but life as they have houses, assets, and little savings. Most of them came only with their worn clothes. The Rohingyas have left behind the connection with their soil in Myanmar after the atrocities of the Myanmar army and government forces. But life goes on. They had to take refuge in the temporary camp in Bangladesh to save their lives. And now, with the new hope, the Rohingyas are looking for the light in their new life.
A large portion of the Rohingyas came to Bangladesh has been staying in temporary camps in Ukhia Upazila, Cox's Bazar. They came here facing the torture, murder, rape but got new life in these camps. Maybe the relief aid is their life assistance, but against the deprivation and torture in Rakhine, they are better here. Rohingyas, who took shelter in temporary refugee camps, shared these words with the Bangla Tribune.
Rohingyas say Myanmar government did not give any basic rights to them like food, clothes, shelter, education, or medical treatment. Moreover, the Myanmar government took away the recognition of their citizenship. On the contrary, they are getting the food, medical treatment, and shelter in Bangladesh. With these little things, Yasin (35), father of three sons, is happy here.
The Rohingyas also came to Bangladesh and highlight the difference in the prices of daily essentials to Myanmar. At the same time, they are accepting the positive changes in their lives.
Rohingyas said the chicken that they are buying in Bangladesh at Tk 145, in Rakhine they had to spend 10,000 Burmese kyats for it. The price of 1 kg rice is 500 kyat, 1-litre soybean Oil is 1500 kyat, per kg Ilish fish is 10000 kyat.
It is known that generally, a day-laborer earns 3,500 to 5 thousand Burmese kyats on a day in Rakhine. And a Madrasa teacher earns 40 to 50 thousand Burmese kyats in a month. Other jobs are not available for them in Rakhine.
Md Soyeb has a gas stove in his room. He lives in Thangakhali Refugee camp. He bought a stove and gas cylinder at Tk 4,500. He never used the gas stove in Rakhine. He arranged the midday meal with fish, spinach, and pulses with rice.
Momtaz Begum lives in the room next to Shoaib. She has a big family with six boys and a girl. He cooked rice, small fish with potatoes, vegetables, and pulses.
The 10 years old Hamidur Rahman was found during walking in the camp. He has a bag which contains two types of fish, with a bitter gourd and malabar spinach. He has a family with 9 members.
A little later, it was seen that a Rohingya woman was cleaning the broiler chicken with the children. The mother of six children was named Amena. She bought the chicken at Tk 205.
The next room is quite tidy. There are three small rooms within a big room. In the first room, there were some red-colored plastic chairs, and a bed sheet was hung to use it as a curtain. A 9-year-old girl peeked off the curtain. Her name is Maya.
Rohingya families have taken shelter in the Rohingya camps in such a way. All the lost people dream of living in the eyes of the new. The people who lost everything but life are having a dream to live a new life.
