A colourful award ceremony was held at the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar on Thursday to honour young participants in an essay and art competition titled “My Neighbor, My Friend,” marking World Refugee Day 2025.

Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC) and the United Nations and humanitarian agencies organised the event jointly and honored both Rohingya refugees and local Bangladeshi youth with special recognition and prizes for their powerful written essays and art pieces.

World Refugee Day, annually observed on June 20, is a global commemoration to foster empathy and raise awareness about the plight of refugees around the world and recognize the communities that host them. 

Fittingly, this year’s World Refugee Day theme is “Solidarity with Refugees.” In alignment with this theme, the award ceremony took place today, Thursday (19 June 2025) at Camp-4 Darbar hall.

Awards were presented to winners in the essay competition from both the Rohingya and local Bangladeshi communities: Fayazul Islam (Winner, English); Shoaib Bin Hasan (Winner, Bengali); Sarwar Shah (First Runner-up) and Mohammad Arz (Second Runner-up)

Winners of the art competition were Ahmed Rafsan (First Prize); Fiona Nusaiba Juha (First Runner-up); Mohammad Shahad (Second Runner-up)

The Secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, Mostafizur Rahman, attended the event and handed over the prizes to the winners.

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Heads of UN agencies operating in Cox’s Bazar, representatives from partner organizations and senior officials were present there.

With support from humanitarian agencies, the competition was organised to nurture and showcase the creativity and talent of local Bangladeshi and Rohingya refugee youth and children.

Themed “My Neighbor, My Friend,” the competition began on June 2 and concluded on June 14.

It welcomed participants aged 8–16 years for art and 16–24 years for essay writing.

The essay competition promoted messages of peace within and between the Rohingya and host communities, while the art competition conveyed the reason for why the Rohingya fled to Bangladesh and the importance of peaceful co-existence through visual storytelling. Participants also expressed their aspirations, resilience, and hope for the future.

The winning essays will soon be published, in both English and Bengali, in national newspapers. Selected artworks will be displayed at the RRRC and ISCG offices.

This celebration served as a heartfelt tribute to refugee youth, amplifying their voices and aspirations, while reaffirming the humanitarian community’s commitment to their dignity and potential.

In his closing remarks, the Secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief,. Mostafizur Rahman, said, "The Rohingya community must remember—you are not alone. Despite many challenges, the local host community continues to stand beside you."

He further added, "We believe in justice and equality. This is our principle and it will remain the same for the Rohingya community as well."

Yoko Akasaka, Head of the UNHCR Cox’s Bazar office, said solidarity with refugees’ means listening to their stories, making space for their voices and supporting them to find not just safety, but also belonging, purpose, and hope. Our message to refugees is clear: You are not forgotten. We stand beside you in support.

IOM Chief of Mission, Lance Bonneau, said, "Bangladesh is a shining example when it comes to solidarity in action. The participants of this competition have portrayed the true picture of refugee life, their resilience and aspirations. I thank and congratulate them for that."

The Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC), Mizanur Rahman said, "We believe that the Rohingya community will –one day – return to their beloved homeland with dignity. The host community has continued to support them until now."

ISCG Principal Coordinator Mr. David Bugden said, "From the very beginning, Bangladesh’s generous act of solidarity has enabled the Rohingya community to remain in Bangladesh.

Alongside the government, international donors and other partners are also playing vital roles. We extend our sincere thanks and gratitude to all”.

Since 2017, over one million Rohingya have been forcibly displaced from Myanmar and taken refuge in the camps of Ukhiya and Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. In this context, World Refugee Day, holds special significance for Bangladesh.