The proliferation of armed groups and drug trafficking within the camps has deepened insecurity, the study found. Many women reported low trust in law enforcement and religious leaders, saying they had nowhere to turn when facing abuse.
Sexual harassment has emerged as the most pressing concern for Rohingya women and adolescent girls living in the crowded refugee camps of Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, according to a new study by ActionAid Bangladesh. The research, released on August 31 in Dhaka, paints a stark picture of insecurity, gender-based violence, and limited future options for a community now in its eighth year of displacement from Myanmar’s Rakhine state.
The study, titled “Äarar Héfazot (Our Protection): Echoing the Voices of Rohingya Women and Girls in the Face of Protection Risks,” was carried out in partnership with local organisation Agrajattra and supported by ActionAid UK and the People’s Postcode Lottery. It engaged 96 women and adolescent girls (66 from three refugee camps (1E, 8E, and 5) and 30 from the host community in Ukhiya) with most participants aged between 16 and 30. Rohingya and local women were trained as co-researchers to ensure their perspectives were authentically represented.
Rising Threats Inside the Camps
“Sexual harassment is the biggest concern,” said Tamazer Ahmed, manager of policy research and advocacy at ActionAid Bangladesh, while presenting the findings. Girls as young as six were reported to be at risk of harassment, particularly near latrines, bathing spaces, schools, and food distribution centres. The study noted that harassment and violence came not only from within the community but also allegedly from members of the Armed Police Battalion (APBN), the special force deployed by Bangladesh to oversee camp security.
“Now, Rohingya women and adolescents often fall victim to molestation, rape, trafficking, poverty, educational exclusion, and even death,” Ahmed said, adding that risks had shifted over the years from lack of basic shelter to more systemic forms of violence.
The research also documented the normalisation of child marriage and polygamy within the camps. Nearly half of respondents (48 per cent) urged for counselling programmes targeting men and boys to address behavioural change and reduce gender-based violence. Alarmingly, only 7 per cent of women surveyed reported any access to legal aid.
Voices of Women and Girls
Most women – between 50 per cent and 82 per cent across camps – expressed a strong desire to return to Myanmar if safe conditions for repatriation could be guaranteed. Many cited deep cultural, emotional, and economic ties to their homeland. However, younger women showed more interest in migrating to third countries such as Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, or the United States. None of the respondents expressed willingness to move to Bhashan Char, a remote island relocation site, citing isolation and lack of opportunities.
“These women have been here for nearly eight years after fleeing persecution in Myanmar,” said Farah Kabir, country director of ActionAid Bangladesh. “At the beginning, there was no shelter. Some improvements have been made since then; yet violence against them has not diminished – only changed in form. The research clearly shows they face multiple risks. Strategic change is essential, and we must adopt long-term, rights-based, and gender-sensitive measures to ensure their protection.”
Kabir stressed that the study was participatory: “Our research sought to amplify the voices of Rohingya women themselves. These findings are not just data points – they are lived realities.”
Protection Needs
The report urged urgent gender-sensitive protection measures, including improved lighting in camps, safe sanitation facilities, the deployment of more female security personnel, and the establishment of women-led protection committees. It also called for stronger law enforcement against armed groups, improved access to legal aid, and expanded education and livelihood opportunities for women and girls.
Juliette Murekeyisoni, deputy country representative at UNHCR, warned that patriarchal barriers and women’s economic dependency continue to undermine safety. “The perspectives of affected women and girls must directly inform programmes and policy decisions,” she said.
Gitanjali Singh, country representative of UN Women, added that protection should extend beyond women and girls to include transgender and gender-diverse communities. She cautioned against funding cuts that disproportionately harm women in crisis contexts.
Hasina Rahman, country director of the International Rescue Committee (IRC), underlined the importance of education in empowerment, warning that the recent withdrawal of US funding could fuel an increase in gender-based and intimate partner violence. “We must monitor the consequences closely,” she said.
Insecurity and Law Enforcement
The proliferation of armed groups and drug trafficking within the camps has deepened insecurity, the study found. Many women reported low trust in law enforcement and religious leaders, saying they had nowhere to turn when facing abuse. Some participants suggested replacing APBN officers with army personnel to restore a sense of safety.
However, APBN officials denied the allegations. “We are not aware of any such complaints,” said commanding officer Kausar Sikdar, dismissing claims of harassment by camp security forces.
Crisis in its Ninth Year
Cox’s Bazar is now home to nearly one million Rohingya Muslims, most of whom fled the 2017 military crackdown in Myanmar’s Rakhine state, which the United Nations has described as ethnic cleansing. The influx has continued in 2024 and 2025, with an additional 150,000 people crossing the border since early this year, further straining Bangladesh’s resources.
Despite international attention, solutions remain elusive. The study urged that the Rohingya crisis not be seen in isolation but as a social, economic, and humanitarian challenge requiring integrated responses that combine humanitarian action, climate resilience, and peace-building.
“Rohingya women and girls have spoken clearly,” said Kabir. “They want protection, dignity, and a future free of violence. The world must listen.”
Image: IOM
