Life at the Bihari Camp

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A young girl writes a poem where she asks a simple question -- one which no one can answer. She asks, “Who am I?” Her forefathers were born in India, they immigrated to Pakistan, and she was born in Bangladesh. India has given up on them a long time back, Bangladesh will not accept them as the children of the land and Pakistan will not take them back. She says that she has many names 'Bihari', 'Maura', 'Muhajir', 'Non-Bangalee', 'Marwari', 'Urdu-speaker', 'Refugee', and 'Stranded Pakistani'. But she only wants one identity: Human.
This is the state of the 1.6 lakh camp-based Urdu-speaking community in Bangladesh. At the Geneva camp now there are about 50 thousand Urdu speaking Indian & Pakistani peoples are living.
After the partition of India in 1947, faced with large-scale communal riots on both sides of the border, a few hundred thousand Muslims from Bihar, Kolkata, Uttar Pradesh, Maddhya Pradesh and as far away as Hyderabad came to the then East Pakistan. All India Muslim League Chief Muhammad Ali Jinnah promised them that Pakistan would be 'a safe haven for all Muslims'. As is typical of people migrating from a common locality, 'Biharis' lived in separate clusters from the Bangalis.
Their communities were concentrated in areas in Mohammadpur, Mirpur, Khulna, Chittagong and Santahar. The new generation who were born after the war and comprise the biggest chunk of camp-dwellers don't have any affiliations with either India or Pakistan. They were born in this country and identify themselves as Bangladeshis. Unfortunately the state is reluctant to accept them as such. It's a very complex issue because a lot of ambivalence from the majority population that is skeptical about these people's loyalty to the country they want to be citizens of. But the inhuman conditions they are living in and the subsequent effect it is bound to have on the society as a whole makes it imperative to resolve this painful issue.
Story & Images by Saiful Amin Kazal

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  Life as a Bihari. A family in poverty. ‘Biharis’ refers to the approximately 300,000 non-Bengali citizens of the former East Pakistan who remain stranded in camps in Bangladesh. The biggest, known as the Geneva camp has about 50 thousand Urdu speaking Indian & Pakistani people living at the camp. The Bihari minority remain some of Bangladesh’s most marginalized communities.

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  Life as a Bihari. Children at the classroom. ‘Biharis’ refers to the approximately 300,000 non-Bengali citizens of the former East Pakistan who remain stranded in camps in Bangladesh. The biggest, known as the Geneva camp has about 50 thousand Urdu speaking Indian & Pakistani people living at the camp. The Bihari minority remain some of Bangladesh’s most marginalized communities.

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  Life as a Bihari. Portrait of a child. ‘Biharis’ refers to the approximately 300,000 non-Bengali citizens of the former East Pakistan who remain stranded in camps in Bangladesh. The biggest, known as the Geneva camp has about 50 thousand Urdu speaking Indian & Pakistani people living at the camp. The Bihari minority remain some of Bangladesh’s most marginalized communities.

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  Life as a Bihari. Cock fights are a tradition at the camp. ‘Biharis’ refers to the approximately 300,000 non-Bengali citizens of the former East Pakistan who remain stranded in camps in Bangladesh. The biggest, known as the Geneva camp has about 50 thousand Urdu speaking Indian & Pakistani people living at the camp. The Bihari minority remain some of Bangladesh’s most marginalized communities.

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  Life as a Bihari. Games shop, Bihari kids just love to play it. ‘Biharis’ refers to the approximately 300,000 non-Bengali citizens of the former East Pakistan who remain stranded in camps in Bangladesh. The biggest, known as the Geneva camp has about 50 thousand Urdu speaking Indian & Pakistani people living at the camp. The Bihari minority remain some of Bangladesh’s most marginalized communities.

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  Life as a Bihari. A child collecting water from the community tap. ‘Biharis’ refers to the approximately 300,000 non-Bengali citizens of the former East Pakistan who remain stranded in camps in Bangladesh. The biggest, known as the Geneva camp has about 50 thousand Urdu speaking Indian & Pakistani people living at the camp. The Bihari minority remain some of Bangladesh’s most marginalized communities.

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  Life as a Bihari. Ariel view of the Geneva camp. ‘Biharis’ refers to the approximately 300,000 non-Bengali citizens of the former East Pakistan who remain stranded in camps in Bangladesh. The biggest, known as the Geneva camp has about 50 thousand Urdu speaking Indian & Pakistani people living at the camp. The Bihari minority remain some of Bangladesh’s most marginalized communities.

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  Life as a Bihari. A Bihari man with a local newspaper. ‘Biharis’ refers to the approximately 300,000 non-Bengali citizens of the former East Pakistan who remain stranded in camps in Bangladesh. The biggest, known as the Geneva camp has about 50 thousand Urdu speaking Indian & Pakistani people living at the camp. The Bihari minority remain some of Bangladesh’s most marginalized communities.

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  Life as a Bihari. A Bihari kid showing a photograph featuring his father with his foreign friend. ‘Biharis’ refers to the approximately 300,000 non-Bengali citizens of the former East Pakistan who remain stranded in camps in Bangladesh. The biggest, known as the Geneva camp has about 50 thousand Urdu speaking Indian & Pakistani people living at the camp. The Bihari minority remain some of Bangladesh’s most marginalized communities.

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  Life as a Bihari. Bihari kids gather during lockdown. ‘Biharis’ refers to the approximately 300,000 non-Bengali citizens of the former East Pakistan who remain stranded in camps in Bangladesh. The biggest, known as the Geneva camp has about 50 thousand Urdu speaking Indian & Pakistani people living at the camp. The Bihari minority remain some of Bangladesh’s most marginalized communities.

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  Life as a Bihari. A hen locked up in a tiny cage. ‘Biharis’ refers to the approximately 300,000 non-Bengali citizens of the former East Pakistan who remain stranded in camps in Bangladesh. The biggest, known as the Geneva camp has about 50 thousand Urdu speaking Indian & Pakistani people living at the camp. The Bihari minority remain some of Bangladesh’s most marginalized communities.

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  Life as a Bihari. Celebrations during the Muhharam month. ‘Biharis’ refers to the approximately 300,000 non-Bengali citizens of the former East Pakistan who remain stranded in camps in Bangladesh. The biggest, known as the Geneva camp has about 50 thousand Urdu speaking Indian & Pakistani people living at the camp. The Bihari minority remain some of Bangladesh’s most marginalized communities.

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  Life as a Bihari. A bihari family visiting Hossaini dalan during the Ashura festival. ‘Biharis’ refers to the approximately 300,000 non-Bengali citizens of the former East Pakistan who remain stranded in camps in Bangladesh. The biggest, known as the Geneva camp has about 50 thousand Urdu speaking Indian & Pakistani people living at the camp. The Bihari minority remain some of Bangladesh’s most marginalized communities.

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  Life as a Bihari. Touching the Alim to a baby’s body during the Muhharam Month. ‘Biharis’ refers to the approximately 300,000 non-Bengali citizens of the former East Pakistan who remain stranded in camps in Bangladesh. The biggest, known as the Geneva camp has about 50 thousand Urdu speaking Indian & Pakistani people living at the camp. The Bihari minority remain some of Bangladesh’s most marginalized communities.

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  Life as a Bihari. A very simple bihari wedding ceromony. ‘Biharis’ refers to the approximately 300,000 non-Bengali citizens of the former East Pakistan who remain stranded in camps in Bangladesh. The biggest, known as the Geneva camp has about 50 thousand Urdu speaking Indian & Pakistani people living at the camp. The Bihari minority remain some of Bangladesh’s most marginalized communities.

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  Life as a Bihari. A very simple bihari wedding ceromony. ‘Biharis’ refers to the approximately 300,000 non-Bengali citizens of the former East Pakistan who remain stranded in camps in Bangladesh. The biggest, known as the Geneva camp has about 50 thousand Urdu speaking Indian & Pakistani people living at the camp. The Bihari minority remain some of Bangladesh’s most marginalized communities.

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  Life as a Bihari. Circumcision of kid dressed as a new groom, it’s a tradition at the camp. ‘Biharis’ refers to the approximately 300,000 non-Bengali citizens of the former East Pakistan who remain stranded in camps in Bangladesh. The biggest, known as the Geneva camp has about 50 thousand Urdu speaking Indian & Pakistani people living at the camp. The Bihari minority remain some of Bangladesh’s most marginalized communities.

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  Life as a Bihari. At a traditional festival. ‘Biharis’ refers to the approximately 300,000 non-Bengali citizens of the former East Pakistan who remain stranded in camps in Bangladesh. The biggest, known as the Geneva camp has about 50 thousand Urdu speaking Indian & Pakistani people living at the camp. The Bihari minority remain some of Bangladesh’s most marginalized communities.

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  Life as a Bihari. A couple working karchupi in sharee. ‘Biharis’ refers to the approximately 300,000 non-Bengali citizens of the former East Pakistan who remain stranded in camps in Bangladesh. The biggest, known as the Geneva camp has about 50 thousand Urdu speaking Indian & Pakistani people living at the camp. The Bihari minority remain some of Bangladesh’s most marginalized communities.

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  Life as a Bihari. At a traditional festival. ‘Biharis’ refers to the approximately 300,000 non-Bengali citizens of the former East Pakistan who remain stranded in camps in Bangladesh. The biggest, known as the Geneva camp has about 50 thousand Urdu speaking Indian & Pakistani people living at the camp. The Bihari minority remain some of Bangladesh’s most marginalized communities.

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  Life as a Bihari. A cow roaming the streets. ‘Biharis’ refers to the approximately 300,000 non-Bengali citizens of the former East Pakistan who remain stranded in camps in Bangladesh. The biggest, known as the Geneva camp has about 50 thousand Urdu speaking Indian & Pakistani people living at the camp. The Bihari minority remain some of Bangladesh’s most marginalized communities.

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  Life as a Bihari. A old woman having a laugh with her grandkids. ‘Biharis’ refers to the approximately 300,000 non-Bengali citizens of the former East Pakistan who remain stranded in camps in Bangladesh. The biggest, known as the Geneva camp has about 50 thousand Urdu speaking Indian & Pakistani people living at the camp. The Bihari minority remain some of Bangladesh’s most marginalized communities.

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  Life as a Bihari. Portrait of a old woman. ‘Biharis’ refers to the approximately 300,000 non-Bengali citizens of the former East Pakistan who remain stranded in camps in Bangladesh. The biggest, known as the Geneva camp has about 50 thousand Urdu speaking Indian & Pakistani people living at the camp. The Bihari minority remain some of Bangladesh’s most marginalized communities.

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  Life as a Bihari. A family watching over the kids at thier small house. ‘Biharis’ refers to the approximately 300,000 non-Bengali citizens of the former East Pakistan who remain stranded in camps in Bangladesh. The biggest, known as the Geneva camp has about 50 thousand Urdu speaking Indian & Pakistani people living at the camp. The Bihari minority remain some of Bangladesh’s most marginalized communities.

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  Life as a Bihari. A boy on bed in his family tent. ‘Biharis’ refers to the approximately 300,000 non-Bengali citizens of the former East Pakistan who remain stranded in camps in Bangladesh. The biggest, known as the Geneva camp has about 50 thousand Urdu speaking Indian & Pakistani people living at the camp. The Bihari minority remain some of Bangladesh’s most marginalized communities.

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  Life as a Bihari. A typical house at the camp. ‘Biharis’ refers to the approximately 300,000 non-Bengali citizens of the former East Pakistan who remain stranded in camps in Bangladesh. The biggest, known as the Geneva camp has about 50 thousand Urdu speaking Indian & Pakistani people living at the camp. The Bihari minority remain some of Bangladesh’s most marginalized communities.

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  Life as a Bihari. A old man bathing his grandkids. ‘Biharis’ refers to the approximately 300,000 non-Bengali citizens of the former East Pakistan who remain stranded in camps in Bangladesh. The biggest, known as the Geneva camp has about 50 thousand Urdu speaking Indian & Pakistani people living at the camp. The Bihari minority remain some of Bangladesh’s most marginalized communities.

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  Life as a Bihari. A handmade vest. ‘Biharis’ refers to the approximately 300,000 non-Bengali citizens of the former East Pakistan who remain stranded in camps in Bangladesh. The biggest, known as the Geneva camp has about 50 thousand Urdu speaking Indian & Pakistani people living at the camp. The Bihari minority remain some of Bangladesh’s most marginalized communities.

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  Life as a Bihari. A boy with a mask. ‘Biharis’ refers to the approximately 300,000 non-Bengali citizens of the former East Pakistan who remain stranded in camps in Bangladesh. The biggest, known as the Geneva camp has about 50 thousand Urdu speaking Indian & Pakistani people living at the camp. The Bihari minority remain some of Bangladesh’s most marginalized communities.

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  Life as a Bihari. Madrasa students. There are many madrasa children at the camp. ‘Biharis’ refers to the approximately 300,000 non-Bengali citizens of the former East Pakistan who remain stranded in camps in Bangladesh. The biggest, known as the Geneva camp has about 50 thousand Urdu speaking Indian & Pakistani people living at the camp. The Bihari minority remain some of Bangladesh’s most marginalized communities.

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  Life as a Bihari. Cock fights are a tradition at the camp. ‘Biharis’ refers to the approximately 300,000 non-Bengali citizens of the former East Pakistan who remain stranded in camps in Bangladesh. The biggest, known as the Geneva camp has about 50 thousand Urdu speaking Indian & Pakistani people living at the camp. The Bihari minority remain some of Bangladesh’s most marginalized communities.

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  Life as a Bihari. Kids working at a salon at a very early age. ‘Biharis’ refers to the approximately 300,000 non-Bengali citizens of the former East Pakistan who remain stranded in camps in Bangladesh. The biggest, known as the Geneva camp has about 50 thousand Urdu speaking Indian & Pakistani people living at the camp. The Bihari minority remain some of Bangladesh’s most marginalized communities.