Behind the Lens: Rohingya's Media Struggles

Media ethics, intellectual property rights, employment challenges, and the broader issues of representation and media bias faced by the Rohingya

Rohingya refugees hold pictures of Mya Thwet Thwet Khain, send condolences to her family and solidarity to protestors. Feburary 2021, Image by © Noor Hossain.

Ever wonder why Rohingya crisis photography is dominated by Bangladeshi or international photojournalists? Why aren't we seeing more authentic narratives captured through the lenses of Rohingya photographers themselves? Do you know about the challenges they face, both in terms of intellectual property and employment rights? How do media giants, who claim to uphold rigorous journalistic integrity, treat the works of these refugee photographers? And perhaps, most intriguingly, what are the systemic barriers in place in Bangladesh that perpetuate these disparities?

Please read my latest OpED that delves deep into the intricate web of representation, rights, and respect (lack of) for aspiring Rohingya photojournalists, whose poignant works often remain overshadowed and undervalued.

The Rohingya and the ethical blindspot of international media | DVB