IRI | BANGLADESH • Urdu-Speaking “Biharis”
We were born in Bangladesh. In schools and colleges,
people don’t like us. Why? We are humans before Biharis. I’m a
Bangladeshi just like you.”
— MA LE, 18, MOHA MMA DP UR
We share beds with two or three other people at night and
then use the floor also.”
— F EMA LE, 22, A DA MJ E E
If employers see a camp address, they put our applications
under the others.”
— MA LE, 23, SA IDP UR
When people come to the secondary school level, they
can’t continue their study. Who will support them? Our income
sources are limited. Every house has at least five or six children.
It’s not possible for parents to educate them all.”
— F EMA LE, 23, CHAT TO GR AM
The condition of the toilets is so bad that you wouldn’t
want to use it if you looked inside …. We use the toilet with our
eyes closed.”
— MA LE, 28, K HULNA
We have the right to get a passport, but [the government]
doesn’t give it to us. They make us get it in an illegal way. They
take 10,000 taka [$120] from us even if the actual cost is 5,000
taka [$60].”
— F EMA LE, 19, MIRP UR
When we open the water tap, it looks like blood is coming
out. The water is so dirty.”
— MA LE, 37, MO HA MMA DP UR
Bengalis look down upon the camp residents. Whenever a
girl from the camp is ready for marriage, they say, “She lives in a
camp, no one will marry her.”
— F EMA LE, 35, SA IDPUR
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