Social Impact of COVID-19 on Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh and India’s Policy Stand: An Analytical Study

Abstract

Aims: The Paper will explore about the COVID- 19 social challenges confronted by the Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar of Bangladesh and will also discuss the role of India in providing medical assistance to Rohingyas in Bangladesh and further will explain a set of policy recommendations designed to improve the life chances of the Rohingya community both now and in the future. Study Design:  Descriptive Study. Methodology: A detailed and related Review of literature of the previous work has been collected in order to extract the information about the vulnerable conditions of Rohingyas refugees in Bangladesh amid novel coronavirus. The paper is based on qualitative research design and the data has been collected from official reports, documents, newspaper, journal articles, books based on Rohingyas refugees in Bangladesh. Results: The COVID-19 pandemic represents a grave social threat to the Rohingya refugees in the camps of Bangladesh. Having fled decades of persecution by the Burmese military, the majority of Rohingya currently live in densely populated refugee camps in Bangladesh. Most are denied access to the internet, mobile phones, humanitarian aid, and sanitary conditions and living in congested camps—all of which heighten the risk of infection and contamination. Currently in 2021, Government of India and International Organization are providing COVID- 19 vaccines and medical assistance to Rohingyas in Bangladesh. Conclusion: Despite facing social impact from COVID- 19, Government of India are taking imperative steps, both to protect the Rohingya from widespread infection and to create the conditions whereby future tragedy can be preempted.