Powerful pictures reveal Rohingya refugees’ plight

A POWERFUL photography exhibition documenting the plight of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh is to open at Edge Hill University.

Amnesty International describes the Rohingya as “one of the most persecuted minorities in the world.’

The refugees, 60% of whom are children, having fled from Myanmar, are now being faced with deportation even though they remain stateless, with uncertain futures.

Who Are The New “Boat People”? features photographs taken by Bangladeshi photo journalist, Fojit Sheikh Babu, which document the day to day lives of the Rohingya community since their arrival in Bangladesh.

Fojit Sheikh Babu said: “In any society or area the minority group will be become victim to all kinds of oppression.

“I have seen first hand the terrible oppression the Rohignya are experiencing and want to bring their story to the world.”

Who Are The New “Boat People”? also contains paintings of the similar 1971 Bangladesh/Pakistan conflict and current Rohingya situation, by the accomplished Bangladeshi/French artist Shahabuddin.

The exhibition has been coordinated by Dr Tasleem Shakur, senior lecturer in geography at Edge Hill.

Dr Shakur said: “Rohingya refugees, particularly the women and children, need urgent and worldwide attention and support.

“The Ronhingya are experiencing torture, rape and genocide and I wanted to help raise awareness of this to help alleviate this desperate situation.”

The exhibition is part of Edge Hill’s annual Festival of Ideas, which this year explores a theme of Equalities.

An evening of panel discussions and performances, culminating in a screening of a documentary will launch the exhibition tomorrow, Friday. It will run until June 9.