Description

This study aims to understand the ongoing Rohingya refugee crisis in Bangladesh in the context of environmental loss. It argues that there is a possibility of an environmental conflict between the Rohingya and the host communities in the coming days if excessive consumption of natural resources continues at the current pace. It, therefore, explores a relationship between the Rohingya refugee influx and environmental degradation as the baseline for creating an ‘Environmental Conflict’ through the qualitative inquiry of research. Along with examining baselines of prevailing tension between two groups of the Rohingya and the host community, it helps us understand the potential causes of conflict outbreak in this situation by applying two established social theories, Homar-Dixon’s ‘Environmental Conflict theory’ and another of Ted Gurr’s ‘Relative deprivation theory’. Disequilibrium in supply and demand nexus is at the heart of the crisis. Because of happening serious resource degradation around the Rohingya camp areas is ultimately putting pressure on the socio-economic, environmental, and security arenas of Bangladesh. We find that the host community is at the receiving end of continued depletion of natural resources, deforestation, vegetation land loss, water crisis, economic stagnation, insecurity, and being a minority in their own country. Therefore, these negative outcomes of the refugee crisis may create tension between two communities, eventually paving the way to environmental conflict.

Keywords: Rohingya, Refugee crisis, Environmental degradation, Conflict, Resource Competition, Myanmar.