On this page, you will find:
To find organisations working for LGBTQI+ rights, visit our Bangladesh LGBTQI+ Resources page.
For Bangladesh country of information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents visit our Bangladesh COI page.
Refugee protection
Click here to see the numbers and origins of refugees hosted by Bangladesh.
The following sections contain information on the most important international treaties and agreements of which Bangladesh is signatory, as well as national legislation relevant to the protection of refugees.
Bangladesh is a non-signatory of the UN 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees or its 1966 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees. It has also not accepted the UN 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons.
Despite this, the Bangladeshi Supreme Court has engaged with the 1951 Convention (Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU) v Government of Bangladesh, 2017) in a case involving a Myanmar national who had completed a formal prison sentence for illegal entry into Bangladesh and was held in detention thereafter. In this case, it was found that, due to the principle of non-refoulement, the return or extradition of this Myanmar national to Myanmar was not permissible on the basis that there were substantial grounds for believing that he would be in danger of being subjected to torture. The Court observed that, “Though Bangladesh has not formally ratified the [Refugee] Convention …[t]his Convention by now has become a part of customary international law which is binding upon all the countries of the world, irrespective of whether a particular country has formally signed, acceded to or ratified the Convention acceded to or ratified the Convention or not”.
Bangladesh has provided some form of international protection to refugees through the ratification of UN Human Rights Treaties, namely: International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, International Covenant on Economic and Social and Cultural Rights, Convention on the Rights of the Child, Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, and Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
The Constitution of Bangladesh guarantees general access to justice for everyone on its territory. It determines that every person in Bangladesh enjoys the protection of the law and is entitled to be treated in accordance with the law. The Constitution guarantees several fundamental rights to all ‘persons’ residing in Bangladesh (therefore technically including refugees who have entered into Bangladesh illegally), including the right to protection of the law (Article 31), the right to life and personal liberty (Article 32), safeguards as to arrest and detention (Article 33), prohibition of forced labour (Article 34) and protection in respect of trial and punishment (Article 35).
However, there is no domestic law governing asylum procedures or refugee status determination, and refugees have no formal or protected legal status under Bangladeshi law. The primary domestic law applicable to refugees would be the Foreigners Act 1946 (the Foreigners Act), which sets out rules for the entry, stay and departure of foreign nationals (including refugees) to Bangladesh. The Government of Bangladesh has wide powers under the Foreigners Act, including to imprison ‘illegal foreigners’ for up to five years for illegal entry into Bangladesh.
The current piecemeal national legal and policy framework is additionally composed of several special agreements or Memorandums of Understanding between United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Governments of Bangladesh and Myanmar, various bilateral agreements between the Governments of Bangladesh and Myanmar, the National Strategy on Myanmar Refugees and Undocumented Myanmar Nationals in Bangladesh 2013, and is implemented in practice using the biometric smart card jointly issued to Rohingya refugees by the Government of Bangladesh and UNHCR.
While Bangladesh is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, if you are an asylum seeker in Bangladesh and need support, you can contact UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) and affiliated partners. Their contact details are set out in the list below. In addition to the UNHCR, we have compiled a list of other organisations (in alphabetical order below) working to provide legal support to and advance legal rights and representation of refugees in Bangladesh.
We have also included a list of organisations providing other non-legal types of support in Bangladesh (in alphabetical order below), including the provision of education and training, counseling, humanitarian assistance (food, shelter, clothing and footwear, healthcare) and other social support. You can also reach out to these organisations through the contact details below, as they may be able to assist you.
Legal aid organisations
Address: 2/16, Block – B, Lalmatia, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh
Tel: 01724415677 (9am- 5pm, emergency number), +880-2-8100192, +8100195, +8100197, +01714025069
Email: ask@citechco.net
Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), a national legal aid and human rights organisation, provides legal and social support to the disempowered, particularly women, working children and workers. Its goal is to create a society based on equality, social and gender justice and rule of law. It seeks to create an environment for accountability and transparency of governance institutions.
Website
Facebook
Tel: +1880 1884-868739
Email: info@arsphr.org
The Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Human Rights (ARSPHR) was founded in November 2017 by Rohingya refugees and representatives from 34 Rohingya Refugee Camps. ARSPHR works to advance rights and justice for Rohingya refugees and to support the education of Rohingya refugee children in the Bangladesh camps.
APRRN works to advance the rights and inclusion of refugees and other people in need of protection in the Asia Pacific region through collaborative advocacy focusing on influencing policymakers through national networks, as well as advocating at international levels on issues related to refugee protection and durable solutions across the region. APRRN also works to strengthen the capacity of lawyers in effectively using strategic litigation in South Asia.
Website
Facebook
Address (Headquarters): 1/1, Pioneer Road, Kakrail, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh
Tel: +88-02-8391970-2 / +88-02-8317185 / +88-02-8391973
Email: mail@blast.org.bd
Address: (Promoting Legal Assistance to Rohingya Community (PLARC) Office): Aymon Plaza (3rd floor), Teknaf Road, Ghilatola, Ukhiya
Tel: +8801844-610446
Email: af.plarc@blast.org.bd / Ic@blast.org.bd
For details of other BLAST districts and project offices, click here.
BLAST provides legal advice and representation at all levels of the justice system, with an emphasis on providing services to those living in poverty or facing disadvantage or discrimination. Legal services, including mediation, litigation and legal rights training, are provided through BLAST’s head office and 19 unit offices across Bangladesh.
Principal Office / Outreach Office
Address: Metro Melody (1st Floor), House# 13, Road#2, Shyamoli, Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh
Tel: +8802 223314729 / 02 41025889 / 02 41025890 / 02 41025891 / 02 41025892 / (for Md Jahir Uddin, Regional Program Coordinator) +8801713328813
Email: info@coastbd.net / rpc.outreach@coastbd.net
Barisal Center
Address: Fuljhuri House, House No: 2236, Nobogram Road, Hatem Ali Chowrasta, Barisal
Tel: +8801713 328826
Email: rpc.barisal@coastbd.net
Charfassion Center (Bhola)
Address: Kulsumbag, Charfassion
Tel: +8804923-74140, 74135 / (for Rashida Begum, Regional Team Leader) +8801713 328802 / (for Md Ayud Ali, Regional Program Coordinator) +8801713328814
Email: rashida@coastbd.net / rpc.bhola@coastbd.net
Chattogram Center
Address: House-261, Road-11, Block-B, Chandgaon R/A, Chattogram
Tel: +88031-2570283 / +8801713144176 / (for Md Anwar Hossain, Regional Program Coordinator) +8801713328805
Email: rpc.chattogram@coastbd.net
Cox’s Bazar Center
Address: House No: 75 Block: A Light House Road (East side of Niribili Orchid), Kalatoli, Cox’s Bazar
Tel: +880 02333347146 / 02333347145 / 02333347148 / (for Jahangir Alam, Regional Team Leader- Assistant Director) +8801713328827 / (for Md. Rubel Hossen, Regional Program Coordinator) +8801713328803
Email: jahangir@coastbd.net / rpc.coxbazar@coastbd.net
Noakhali Center (Noakhali)
Address: House No: 01, Road No: 5, Housing State, Maijde Court, Noakhali
Tel: (for Md Nure Alam, Regional Program Coordinator) +8801713 328808
Email: rpc.noakhali@coastbd.net
Feni Office
Address: Circuit house road, Feni
Tel: +880331-74579 / 01713144152
Email: fenisadar@coastbd.net
Laxmipur Office
Address: Ramgoti road, Laxipur
Phone: +0381-55114 / +01713144156
Email: laxmipursadar@coastbd.net
Cumilla Office
Address: House, 384/04, Munshi Torab Ali Sorok, Cumilla City Corporation, Bagichagoan, Cumilla, Bangladesh
Tel: +88 01713 328821
Email: rpc.cumilla@coastbd.net
COAST Foundation supports and takes necessary steps to mediate initiatives of the poor in realizing their demands on government and other institutions where they have legitimate rights and shares, initiate programs/projects and activities, alone/or in partnership with others, with the aim of protecting and preserving the ecological/natural resources in the country specially of the Bay of Bengal.
Website
Address: Sawdagar Garden (4th Floor), Jatrabari, Dhaka-1236,Bangladesh.
Tel: +88-01-842773300 (helpline)
Email: okup.ent@gmail.com
OKUP is a community-based migrant organisation in Bangladesh that operates on the principle of human rights priority based on gender justice, substantive equality, and non-discrimination.
OKUP’s priority intervention areas are promoting migration through legal pathways, fair and ethical recruitment, migrants’ access to basic services, access to justice, climate migration, and sustainable reintegration and livelihoods of the migrants and left behind families and protection of migrants’ children.
OKUP provides shelter support, psycho-social counseling, legal assistance (including in respect of employment contracts, wage disputes, discrimination and abuse and exploitation) and airport pickups for returnee migrant workers.
Organisations providing other support to refugees
Website
Address: 684-686 Red Cresent Road, Wireless Railgate Bara Moghbazar, Dhaka 1217, Bangladesh
Tel: +375 (17) 263-84-17 (landline)
Email: info@redcross.by
Bangladesh Red Cross (BRC) provides humanitarian assistance (food and hygiene kits, if available in stock – secondhand clothing and footwear for children and adults), counseling on and facilitation of integration, referral to relevant state authorities for targeted assistance in accordance with their competence.
Website
Address: House #13A, Road #136, Gulshan-1, Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh
Tel: +88 02 5504 4811 – 13 / +88 02 5504 4818 – 19
In Bangladesh, due to the mass influx of Rohingya into its territory, International Organisation for Migration (IOM) acts in partnership with other organisations in providing humanitarian support to migrants in the country. IOM’s work includes primary healthcare and improving water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure and services both for the refugees and vulnerable host communities.
IOM has recently launched a Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) One-stop Service Centre that will provide comprehensive mental health, psychosocial, protection and health services for the Rohingya refugee community in Cox’s Bazar.
Website
Facebook
Address: International Rescue Committee, Bangladesh, 4th Floor, House No. CEN (D) – 3, Apt No. A 4-5, Road No. 95, Gulshan-2, Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh
Tel: +880-2-8881453
Email: IRC.BD@rescue.org
IRC focuses on health and the protection of vulnerable women and children, and runs education programs to help children enhance their social and cognitive skills and cope with emotional trauma. IRC Bangladesh has a 24/7 health center in Cox’s Bazar refugee camp.
Facebook
Tel: +880 1868-522345
Email: chekufabd.rwean@gmail.com
Rohingya Women’s Empowerment and Advocacy Network (RWEAN) works to promote the rights and wellbeing of Rohingya women and girls in Bangladesh.
Facebook
Email: rowomenaed.org@gmail.com
Rohingya Women Association for Education and Development (RWAED) is a camp based organisation working for womens’ empowerment, leadership and the rights of women.
Website
Address: Motel Road (Probal), 4700 Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh
Tel.: 16670 (refugee helpline); 880 341 64380 (office)
Email: BGDCO@unhcr.org (general) / bgdcoprt@unhcr.org (to report concerns about your or your family’s safety in Cox’s Bazar/Bhasan Char)
UNHCR works to support the Government of Bangladesh to provide essential services and meet the protection needs of refugees, including special services for women, children and persons with disabilities.
Click here to find your nearest UNHCR information point, where you can visit to learn more about available assistance or to speak to a worker about your situation.
If you have concerns about your family’s safety, you can approach the UNHCR Protection Focal Point at the UNHCR office or any information point. If you are a survivor of sexual exploitation or abuse, you can seek help from any Gender-Based Violence service in the camp, or at any Women and Girl Safe Space and report this at any information point.
Bangladesh LGBTQI+ Resources
Find organisations working for refugee LGBTQI+ rights in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh COI
Find Bangladesh Country of Origin information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents.
We are always looking to expand the resources on our platform. If you know about relevant resources, or you are aware of organisations and/or individuals to include in our directories, please get in touch.
Last updated June 2025
