Amnesty's music video seeks support for Rohingya children's education

Amnesty International has released a music video urging people across the world to support education for the Rohingya children and host communities in Bangladesh.

The organisation in a press statement said the video was released on the occasion of International Day of Education on Friday.

Bangladeshi hip-hop lyricist and musician Mahmud Hasan Tabib and child artiste Rana Mridha, who became popular on YouTube for their songs promoting education of underprivileged children, lent their voice to the song.

"As humanity is not limited to any race or border, supporting education of the oppressed Rohingya children is all of our responsibility. This song for Rohingya children’s education is driven by that belief," said Mahmud Hasan Tabib.

He added, "I felt inspired to work with Amnesty International after learning about their work to promote education of the oppressed Rohingya children."

The Bangla song released with English subtitle reads, "If all children today are enlightened with education, the future of the world will be bright. Otherwise, it will be a mistake, injustice will increase. They will be silenced by the rage of the sinners."

Thousands of Rohingya children and youth are denied access to education in the villages and towns in Myanmar as well as in places where they have sought refuge. The consequence of growing these children without access to education is to risk them to life of poverty and exploitation including in some cases through serious criminal activity such as drug smuggling, child trafficking or recruitment into violent armed groups.

"Education is not at odds with repatriation. Instead, a quality education in appropriate language and accredited curriculum can empower the Rohingya children to claim their rights, contribute to the society and economy they live in," said Saad Hammadi, South Asia campaigner at Amnesty International.

Nearly one million Rohingya refugees have fled their homes in Myanmar because of actions by the military in the country, many of which amount to crimes against humanity.

Almost half a million of these refugees are children below 18 years living in the threadbare camps in Cox’s Bazar, which has the lowest primary school enrolment rate in the country at 71 per cent and the second highest drop-out rate at 31 per cent.

Amnesty International launched a petition in major countries across the global movement calling on governments to support Bangladesh in educating the Rohingya refugee and host community children.

A global petition also calls on prime minister Sheikh Hasina to ensure that quality education in appropriate language and accredited curriculum protects the diversity of social, cultural and linguistic identity of both the communities.

"As we encourage the international community to share responsibility for the crisis that has hit Bangladesh as a result of the refugee influx, using this moment to improve access to education for all children in Cox’s Bazar will be a step in positive direction for the government of Bangladesh," said Saad Hammadi.