A Journey from Genocide to Hope: A Rohingya Youth Activist's Story

• Mohammed Asem, a Rohingya youth activist, shares his experience of fleeing Myanmar and living as a stateless refugee in Bangladesh.
• The 1982 Myanmar citizenship law stripped the Rohingya of their nationality, leading to systemic discrimination and the displacement of approximately 1.2 million people.
• Asem founded "Arakani Youth Innovation" in July 2025 to advocate for his community, preserve culture, and address the lack of opportunity within refugee camps.

The Crisis and Escape

• Between August 2016 and January 2017, the Myanmar military engaged in a violent crackdown involving massacres, arson, and executions, labeled as genocide by various international bodies.
• Asem and his family fled in 2017 at age 10, enduring gunfire from the military while crossing the Naf River into Bangladesh.
• Upon arrival, they faced initial refusal of entry by border guards, followed by severe shortages of food, medicine, and shelter in the Kutupalong camp at Cox’s Bazar.

The Barrier of Statelessness

• Despite managing to study through community schools, Asem lost a 2023 opportunity to study in Turkey because he lacks a passport and his Myanmar high school diploma is unrecognized due to his stateless status.
• The label of "stateless" functions as a permanent barrier to formal education, professional advancement, and basic dignity.

Ongoing Conflict and Prospects

• Post-2021 military coup in Myanmar, conditions have further deteriorated as civilian governance was dismantled.
• The rise of the Arakan Army and continued regional fighting in Rakhine State have diminished the prospect of a safe return for the Rohingya people.