Arakan News Agency | Exclusive
At a time when the hardships and tragedies the Rohingya have endured for years may leave them no room to enjoy the present or hope for a better future, refugees in Bangladesh have clung to a lifebuoy they see as a way to escape the horrors of genocide and the hardships of living in refugee camps far from home. They have named it the “Rohingya Art Club.”
In addition to its establishment as an art center, its purpose extends beyond that. The club seeks to preserve Rohingya culture and identity, support Rohingya recovery from trauma, and raise global awareness of the suffering of the Rohingya community. It also helps young people express themselves and their community, spreading hope for justice and a better future.
Roots

The Rohingya Art Club was established in 2022 by the award-winning Rohingya artist Enayet Khan to support young Rohingya artists living in the refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar. The club comprises 36 talented artists, including six women, each playing a unique role in supporting the club’s creative work and success.
As it looks forward to future, the Rohingya Art Club’s cultural programs preserve the past and traditions by organizing street performances, including plays that address Rohingya life, values, and struggles, to raise awareness of Rohingya historical culture. They also create miniature models of traditional Rohingya homes and tools for children to learn about their roots and instill pride in their identity.
Documenting the Genocide
A member of the club since its inception and one of its most prominent figures is Mohammad Ryhan, a 21-year-old survivor of the Rohingya genocide in Arakan State, western Myanmar. He told the Arakan News Agency that art could have documented much of what the Rohingya suffered at the hands of the Myanmar military in 2017 and instilled hope in survivors for a better life.

“When the Myanmar military committed systematic genocide against us, we were unable to record or document everything. Now, through my art, I am trying to show the international community and our people what happened, from the burning of villages to the killing of our children, to our current way of life in the refugee camps”, Ryhan said.
The young Rohingya artist emphasized that art could have documented many of the atrocities the Rohingya have suffered. “When we can’t express ourselves directly, we can express our pain and stories through art. In my village, I know exactly what happened in 2017, but I don’t know what happened in other villages. If there was at least one artist in every village, they could have highlighted everything that happened to their people, documented it, and shared it with the world”, he explained.
He added, “I know that many young Rohingya like me are very talented, and I want to encourage them to continue to give and contribute. I tell all young people not to stop using their talents and do their best to serve our community.”
A Glimpse of Hope
Art was what saved Mohammed Ryhan, as a young man fleeing to Bangladesh after his family was subjected to the systematic genocide in Rathedaung, Arakan state, in 2017. Ryhan had been interested in art since childhood but didn’t realize its value until he sought refuge.

Since arriving in the camps, Ryhan has worked individually to hone his talent before receiving assistance and training. Through art, he aspires to showcase the lost cultural heritage of the Rohingya to young people, children, and the international community, which motivates him to continue.
Ryhan has won five different art awards in competitions organized by Rohingya civil society organizations. However, he still faces many challenges, most notably his status as a refugee, not a Bangladeshi citizen, which makes it difficult for him to obtain the materials he needs to continue his journey.
He told the Arakan News Agency, “We are refugees, not Bangladeshi citizens, so it’s difficult for us to obtain the materials we need for our artwork. Even when we have money, we sometimes cannot leave the camp due to government restrictions.”
He continued, “Some NGOs recognize me as an artist and have also helped me by providing the art materials I need.”
Ryhan emphasized that his parents and family are his biggest supporters, and that he aspires to become a professional artist who represents the Rohingya community, takes pride in his identity, and shares his work with the international community. He said, “Through my art, I want to show what we have lost in Arakan and help Rohingya children born in refugee camps understand our history and identity.”

The Rohingya Art Club serves as a platform for Rohingya to develop their talents and share their stories both inside and outside the camps. They hope that their art will help others understand both the pain and strength of the Rohingya and instill hope and pride in the Rohingya community.
More than a million Rohingya have fled Arakan state in western Myanmar in recent years after the Myanmar military launched a genocidal campaign against them in 2017. The separatist Arakan Army launched a military campaign to seize control of the state in November 2023, also targeting them with violence, displacement, and forced conscription. Most of them live in overcrowded camps in Bangladesh, while others seek to move to other countries in search of better living conditions.