FAITH OF STATELESSNESS (Bangladesh, 2006)

Those who are considered refugees in Bangladesh are obliged to live in government-run camps. The largest group in these camps are the Islamic Biharis. They have been in this region for sixty years now, but still have no official status. The Biharis came from East Pakistan, but at the outbreak of the civil war in Pakistan in 1971 sided with Islamic West Pakistan. After the war East Pakistan became Bangladesh. It regards the Biharis as traitors, while Pakistan refuses to take them in for fear of being overwhelmed with refugees. Since then the Biharis have been stateless, and live under miserable conditions in Bangladesh. – A fire-juggler at the camp prepares for the big event of the tenth of Muharram, the following day. Many such displays will be seen the next day during the Muharram procession, an important event among Shi’ite Muslims worldwide, and one of the most important religious events among the camp-dwellers.