From humanitarian crisis to burden: understanding the Rohingya refugee crisis in Bangladesh

The humanitarian response and refugee crisis are two of the most pressing global issues today. The Rohingya refugee crisis, in particular, is crucial for global peace, but it has also placed a significant burden on Bangladesh. Although the government initially framed the response as a humanitarian one, this study examines the shift in perception of the crisis from a humanitarian issue to a burden for the host country. The study is qualitative in nature and aims to explore the narrative transformation of Rohingya refugees from aid beneficiaries to a burden for Bangladesh. The study was based on secondary data, using critical discourse analysis. To explore the factors behind the transformation, we employed integrated threat theory. The findings of this article indicate that the community’s support for Rohingya refugees has turned to hostility, and economic, political, environmental, cultural and security risk factors have contributed to the Rohingya refugee crisis in Bangladesh becoming a burden. This study will be valuable for understanding how perceptions of a humanitarian crisis can change over time and the various factors that contribute to this shift. It will also provide insight into the challenges faced by host countries in managing refugee crises and the importance of addressing these challenges to ensure that the crisis remains a humanitarian issue and not a burden for the host country.