Confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths have been lower in Bangladesh’s Rohingya refugee camps than in surrounding host communities. (Photo by Mohamad Hafiz Johari)

Rohingya scapegoated as Bangladesh battles COVID-19

Pandemic threatens aid to both poor host communities and refugees

A.Z.M. ANAS, Contributing writer

July 7, 2020 04:03 JST

DHAKA -- "Two more Rohingya die from corona: Locals in panic" -- screamed a recent newspaper headline in southeastern Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar.

Social media has sometimes been equally hysterical. One college teacher posted on Facebook that lack of awareness about COVID-19 among Rohingya refugees from Myanmar "will lead to our collapse."