12/24/2004

There are currently 250,000 to 300,000 stateless Biharis in Bangladesh.  Because they were part of the opposition to Bangladesh's independence movement, they were stripped of their citizenship and now reside in sixty-six camps throughout the country. 

One of the camps in the Mirpur area of Dhaka, Millat, accommodates 650 families, the majority of whom say they want to live in Pakistan.  Residents report the main problems include education, the water supply, and the lack of any medical facilities.  Unlike many of the other Bihari camps RI visited in Bangladesh, residents in Millat are employed, working as barbers, sari-makers, or doing other odd jobs.

While at Millat Camp, we entered a small two-floor wooden building completely filled by two huge looms and a set of narrow steps leading upstairs.  Above the sound of rattling wood, we spoke with one of the weavers, a 22-year-old man who was shuttling bobbins of shining gold thread through a rich green warp.  Having worked like this since he was ten, he assured us it was not physically difficult for him.  Without interrupting his labor, he explained that he generally produces about three saris by working a nine or ten hour day, with a break every three hours.   One of these 6-meter pieces made by two people is sold for about 300 Taka (US $5.00).  The bulk of this earning is used to rent the equipment from its local Bangladeshi owner, and the rest is used to help support his parents and younger siblings.

He tells us, "The camp needs education and a technical institution."  But more than just immediate fixes, there is a need for a durable solution for the Bihari in Bangladesh.  "We are not citizens of Bangladesh or Pakistan," he says.  "It's like being in a 'hanging position.'" 

Another camp in the Dhaka area, Geneva Camp, accommodates about 25,000 residents.  Geneva is the so-called Paris of the camps because it was rebuilt by embassies and non-governmental organizations after a fire destroyed it in its entirety in 1996.  In reality, though, residents live as one camp official said, "more or less as refugees." 

Geneva's residents have electricity and well-water for drinking and washing.  However, men and women use common latrines.  Aside from wider walkways, housing conditions are similar to those in the other camps. They are seriously overcrowded.

In a windowless eight by eight foot room, Saida tells us she has resided in Geneva Camp since its establishment in 1972.  Once a family of six, Saida's husband died two years ago leaving her 19-year-old son as the primary breadwinner for the family.  The young man has been able to secure work doing embroidery and earns about 250 taka (US $4.15) for the two pieces he completes each week.  Once he completes a piece, he hands the completed work to the local Bangladeshi business owner, who in turn sells the pieces for 800-1,000 taka (between US $13 and $17).  Since it costs about 800-1,000 taka to feed the family each week, Saida also works making flower garlands.  She usually works about six hours a week, and can make about 15 Taka (US $0.25) a day.  Mostly though, she worries her children.  "There is no future here," she says.