Arakan News Agency
By: Tahany Ali
In one of the most fragile refugee settings in the world, where hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees live in overcrowded camps in southern Bangladesh, challenges go beyond food, shelter, and security shortages. They extend to cross-border religious proselytism attempts, managed through digital platforms and international missionary organizations, according to databases and open sources maintained by these entities.
The United Nations classifies the Rohingya as one of the most persecuted minorities in the world, after they fled Arakan State in 2017 following a military campaign launched by the Myanmar Army (the ruling military council).
However, their suffering in refugee camps has not ended their targeting. According to observers, it has opened new doors to challenges that affect identity and religious affiliation.
Databases for Proselytism
A review of digital platforms of international missionary organizations such as the “Joshua Project” shows that the Rohingya are not seen merely as refugees by these entities, but as “strategic targets.”
The organization classifies Rohingya in Bangladesh as an “Unreached” group, a missionary term referring to peoples who have not yet been exposed to Christian influence.
These databases include detailed information about population numbers, language, and geographic distribution within camps, as well as recommendations on what these entities describe as “the best ways to reach them,” raising human rights concerns regarding the exploitation of refugee situations.
Leveraging Language and Religion
Data published on missionary platforms indicate the production of religious audio-visual content, including religious films translated or dubbed in the local Rohingya dialect (Chittagonian), as well as digital materials and mobile applications, aiming to overcome linguistic and cultural barriers.
Researchers on refugee affairs note that relying on refugees’ native language gives these materials greater penetration power, especially in environments suffering from illiteracy, weak formal education, and the absence of cultural alternatives.
Camps as Fertile Ground
Inside camps such as Kutupalong and Balukhali, where refugees are prohibited from formal work and suffer from movement restrictions and a lack of services, communities become more vulnerable to any activity exploiting need.
Humanitarian workers say some activities are presented under educational or social titles while carrying undisclosed religious messages.
Observers warn that intertwining humanitarian work with religious agendas in the context of forced displacement raises ethical dilemmas concerning freedom of choice, particularly when children or families living in extreme poverty are targeted.
The Challenge of Identity
Despite these attempts, the statistical report from the Joshua Project platform shows that the percentage of Christians among the Rohingya remains near 0% (less than 0.11% according to their estimates), reflecting a strong adherence to the Islamic identity, which Rohingya consider the last fortress linking them to their land and history in Arakan State.
A minority affairs researcher said: “For the Rohingya, religion is not just a belief, but a fundamental element in preserving identity after being stripped of land and citizenship. Therefore, any attempt to interfere with this aspect is met with extreme caution, even if individual cases arise due to economic need.”
Legal and Ethical Position
Legally, Bangladeshi laws prohibit any proselytizing activities within refugee camps and impose strict oversight on the work of non-governmental organizations (NGOs). However, human rights reports indicate gaps sometimes exploited by small or unregistered entities operating under educational or medical titles.
These realities raise a broader ethical question for the international community: to what extent should religious agendas be allowed within enclosed refugee environments, where residents lack freedom of movement and full choice and depend entirely on aid for survival?
An Issue Beyond the Camps
This problem is not limited to the Cox’s Bazar camps alone. According to analysts, it is part of a broader global scene where humanitarian work, politics, and religion intersect in conflict and refugee zones.
While a permanent solution for the Rohingya issue remains absent, the camps remain an open space for tensions that exceed humanitarian needs, affecting the core of identity and human dignity.
The Rohingya remain trapped in a struggle beyond their capacities: a struggle between countries that deny them citizenship, international organizations bargaining over their identity, and a harsh living reality.
While missionary sites focus on tracking “progress” in the number of converts, the sole demand of millions of refugees remains “justice and return,” not identity change in exchange for a livelihood.
