Story of Rohingya Christians in the UNHCR Transit Center

Rohingya Christians Refugee in Bangladesh

My name is Andrew. I am a Rohingya Christian refugee currently residing in Bangladesh.

Following the terrorist attacks on 26 January 2020, restrictions were imposed on Rohingya Christians. Since that time, my family and I have been confined to the UNHCR transit center. We have remained here for 6 years with severely restricted freedom of movement and without clear information about our legal status, protection pathway, or prospects.

From 1 January 2026, until the present, our situation has further deteriorated. During this period, we have received no food assistance and no cooking gas. When we raised this issue, UNHCR staff instructed us to collect food from inside the main refugee camp. However, this instruction is impossible and unsafe for us to follow. Due to past terrorists and threats openly made by phone and social media, we cannot safely enter the camp.

In 2020, in front of the police, terrorists attacked Rohingya Christians, including the police. These risks have never been adequately addressed, and no safe access or escort has been provided.

As a result, denying us food and essential services while directing us to an inaccessible and dangerous location places our lives at serious risk. This situation violates fundamental humanitarian principles, including humanity, impartiality, and non-discrimination, as well as the right to life, food, and adequate living conditions, as recognized under international human-rights law.

We are a family with elderly parents who depend on us for daily care and survival. Yet we have been forced to live for an extended period in confined, overcrowded conditions that resemble arbitrary detention rather than temporary protection. This prolonged confinement, combined with deprivation of necessities, has caused severe psychological distress, fear, and uncertainty.

We emphasize clearly and firmly that we are not criminals and pose no security threat. We are victims of persecution based on our ethnicity and religion. Under international law, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, all human beings are entitled to dignity, equality before the law, freedom from discrimination, and protection from inhuman or degrading treatment. Our continued confinement, unequal treatment, and denial of basic assistance raise serious concerns under these principles.

We do not seek special privileges. We ask only for equal treatment, meaningful protection, and living conditions consistent with international humanitarian standards. The continued absence of clear information regarding resettlement, local integration, or freedom of movement has left us in a constant state of anxiety and despair.

We ask a simple and humane question:

What is our hope, and what is our future?

We seek a peaceful life, the ability to live together safely as a family, and recognition of our basic human dignity. We respectfully request that our situation be urgently reviewed with compassion, fairness, and in accordance with international human-rights and refugee-protection obligations.

Andrew Salem

Rohingya Christians