The Privilege and Prejudice of RRRC's Mizanur Rahman

A Civil Servant’s Misguided View on the Rohingya

Mizanur Rahman - photo taken from RRRC web site.

When it comes to Rohingya refugees, it seems Mizanur Rahman, the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner, can’t help but deliver remarks that are as inflammatory as they are ignorant. His latest statement? ( It might not be his latest, but i just came across it!) That the Rohingya "used the poor law-and-order situation as an advantage," as if these persecuted people were lounging in the "peace" of war-torn Arakan and then, opportunistically, decided to trade that life for the squalour and despair of Bangladesh’s camps during the chaotic and violent depature of Hasina.

It’s not just offensive - it’s a gross misrepresentation of the Rohingya’s plight. These are people fleeing genocide, massacres, and the wholesale destruction of their communities. For Rahman to reduce their desperate escape to opportunism is not only ignorant but also deeply callous.

This isn’t the first time Rahman’s comments have raised eyebrows. I’ve previously addressed his appalling views on the Rohingya’s potential, education, and integration. In one interview, he dismissed the Rohingya as "agriculture labourers and fishermen," mocking the idea of a physician or engineer emerging from their ranks. His utilitarian argument - essentially asking whether Bangladesh "needs more" of such people - betrays a staggering lack of humanity. For those interested, you can read my previous critique here:

But Rahman’s disdain is even more galling when you consider his privileged background. Born into a noble family, Mizanur Rahman received an elite education, both in Bangladesh and abroad. He boasts qualifications from institutions in the UK, India, and Australia, and his travels span the globe—from Germany to Singapore to Canada. He has participated in humanitarian negotiation workshops and conferences on migration and refugee settlement. One might expect such a well-travelled and highly educated individual to possess empathy and a nuanced understanding of refugee issues. Instead, he churns out dismissive, demeaning rhetoric that erases the humanity of the very people his role demands he protect.

How can someone who has seen the world and studied humanitarian principles fail so profoundly in his moral obligations? His comments are not just embarrassing - they are harmful. By perpetuating these narratives, Rahman devalues the Rohingya’s struggles, misrepresents their reality, and undermines the credibility of the civil service he represents.

Mizanur Rahman’s privileged life seems to have insulated him from understanding the desperation of those fleeing for their lives. Instead of advocating for policies that nurture the potential of Rohingya children, he laments their birthrate. Instead of fostering integration, he reduces them to mere economic liabilities.

Bangladesh, a country that has opened its borders to the Rohingya in a moment of humanitarian need, deserves better representation than this. It deserves civil servants who uphold human dignity, not diminish it. The Rohingya crisis is a test not just of Bangladesh’s resources but of its humanity.

Mizanur Rahman has failed that test again and again. Enough is enough.

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