Biharis, an Urdu-speaking minority originally from the Indian state of Bihar, became stranded in former East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) after the 1971 war of independence. Today, approximately 250,000 Biharis reside in urban refugee camps across Dhaka, Bogra, Khulna, Mymensingh, and Chittagong. These camps, overcrowded and lacking basic necessities like clean water, sanitation, and education, have devolved into slums, perpetuating cycles of poverty.
Until 2008, all Biharis in Bangladesh were stateless, denied citizenship and essential rights. A landmark ruling by the Dhaka High Court granted citizenship and voting rights to around 150,000 Biharis who were minors during the 1971 war. This decision has improved access to education and jobs for a segment of the community. However, for those born before 1971, statelessness persists, leaving them trapped in limbo with limited prospects for integration or mobility. Their plight underscores ongoing struggles for justice and belonging.
Playground near the Jhowtila Bihari camp in Chittagong, Bangladesh, May 2015
Collective centre for Bihari in Jhowtila, Chittagong, Bangladesh, June 2015
Limited access to water and inadequate sanitation are a major concern in the over populated Bihari camps. Geneva Camp in Mohammadpur, Dhaka, May 2015
Bihari camp in Khulna, Bangladesh, May 2015
Halishahar Bihari camp, Chittagong, Bangladesh, May 2015
School for Bihari children, Jhowtila camp in Chittagong, Bangladesh, May 2015
Small shoe shop, Bihari community in Mirpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh, May 2015
Coranic school in Arabic, Jhowtila Bihari camp, Chittagong, Bang;adesh, June 2015
Bihari community, an Urdu speaking minority in Bangladesh, Geneva Camp in Dhaka, Bangladesh, May 2015
Jhowtila Bihari camp in Chittagong, Bangladesh, May 2015
Biharis is the term given to a group of non-Bengali Urdu speaking residents and citizens of former East Pakistan, most of whom originated from the Indian state of Bihar. Today, many Biharis live in Pakistan and India in addition to Bangladesh, where about 250,000 remain in urban refugee camps in Dhaka, Bogra, Khulna, Mymensingh and Chittagong. The camps have become slums, densely populated and with inadequate access to health, sanitation, water and education. Until recently all Biharis in bangladesh were considered stateless and having no access to citzenship and identification documents. In 2008, the Dhaka High Court approved citizenship and voting rights for about 150,000 refugees who were minors at the time of Bangladesh's 1971 war of independence. The has improved access to education and employment opportunities outside the camps. However, for those born before 1971 the situation remains one of a stateless person without possibility to move on. Bihari woman and her belongings, Raufabad camp, Chittagong, Bangladesh, May 2016
Collective centre for stateless Bihari in Jhowtila, Chittagong, Bangladesh, June 2015
Bihari camp in Chittagong, Bangladesh, June 2015
Stateless Bihari camp in Chittagong, the Bihari camps have existed for the past 45 years since the end of the Liberation War in 1971. Bangladesh, May 2015
Home based coranic school, Bihari camp in Dhaka, Bangladesh, May 2015
Piruj Shah Bihari camp, Chittagong, Bangladesh, May 2016
Eldery stateless Bihari in Geneva Camp, Mohammadpur in Dhaka, Bangladesh, December 2015
Rest between classes, the first lecture starts at four in the morning. Coranic school in Jhowtila Bihari camp, Chittagong, Bangladesh, May 2015
Bihari camp in Mirpur, Bangladesh, December 2015
Halishahar Bihari camp, Chittagong, Bangladesh, May 2015
Abandonned public building used as collective centre for stateless Bihari since 1971, Chittagong, Bangladesh, May 2015
"Geneva Camp" urban camp for the Bihari minority, Mohammadpur in Dhaka, Bangladesh, December 2015
Dark alley of Halishahar camp for Bihari stateless persons, Chittagong, Bangladesh, December 2015
Bihari girl making paper bags. Jhowtila collective centre for Bihari people, Chittagong, Bangladesh, May 2016
Bihari boy in Halishahar camp, Chittagong, Bangladesh, December 2015
Tailor workshop, Piruj Shah camp, Chittagong, Bangladesh, May 2016
Tea shop, Jhowtila Bihari camp, Chittagong, Bangladesh, May 2016
A nearly completed sari made by Bihari, Mirpur, Bangladesh,, December 2015
Halishahar Bihari camp, Chittagong, Bangladesh, May 2016
