Caritas Shares Lent Teachings With Rohingya Refugees In Cox’s Bazar Bangladesh

In the sprawling camps of Cox’s Bazar, home to over 1 million Rohingya Muslim refugees, Caritas Bangladesh is using the season of Lent to build understanding between religions.

As refugees observe the final days of Ramadan, the charity is sharing the meaning of Christian fasting and reflection, creating a unique interfaith dialogue in one of the world’s most densely populated refugee settlements.

Explaining Lent to Rohingya Refugees

Liton Luis Gomes, project director of Caritas Bangladesh’s Emergency Response Program, explained that the initiative highlights the spiritual and practical dimensions of Lent.

“We share with the Rohingya the significance of our fasting: eating less and giving to the poor, listening to others, and serving those who truly deserve it,” Gomes told EWTN News.

The campaign’s 2026 theme — “Prayer, Listening, and Fasting: A Holy Call of Inner Transformation” — emphasizes reflection and service, values that resonate across both faiths.

Caritas hopes that connecting Lent with the Ramadan experience will foster mutual respect and understanding.

The Rohingya Context

Most of the Rohingya in Cox’s Bazar arrived from Myanmar after military operations in Rakhine State in August 2017.

Denied citizenship since 1982, they have faced decades of persecution in Buddhist-majority Myanmar.

The 2021 military coup further exacerbated their vulnerability, leaving them dependent on humanitarian aid.

The refugee camps are overcrowded, with roughly 103,600 people per square mile — over 40 times Bangladesh’s national average.

Families live in tiny bamboo and plastic shelters, often housing up to a dozen individuals.

Eid Arrives in Uncertain Times

Though Eid al-Fitr is approaching, many refugees report they are unable to celebrate.

Abdur Rahim, 55, a father of five, told EWTN News: “We have no money to buy new clothes for my child and grandchild.

Eid is joyful to Muslims, but we are not in a festive mood.

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If we could go to Myanmar, we would be happy.”

Despite hardships, Rahim said the Caritas initiative helped him appreciate the deeper meaning of fasting.

“I didn’t know that Ramadan is not just about not eating.

Now, I’ve learned that it’s about helping people and reducing your expenses,” he said.

Caritas’ Lifeline for Refugees

Since 2017, Caritas has provided $45 million in emergency support to Rohingya and host communities in Cox’s Bazar.

The charity has assisted nearly 1.7 million individuals, offering shelter, protection, education, disaster risk reduction, and water, sanitation, and hygiene services.

Caritas Bangladesh is the social action arm of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Bangladesh, and its programs continue to provide relief and foster dialogue in one of the most challenging humanitarian contexts in the world.

Impact and Consequences

• Promotes interfaith understanding between Christians and Rohingya Muslims.

• Offers psychological and social support to refugees facing trauma and displacement.

• Strengthens community ties between refugees and host populations in Cox’s Bazar.

• Highlights the importance of humanitarian aid alongside cultural and spiritual engagement.

What’s Next?

Caritas plans to continue its Lenten and interfaith programs throughout 2026, emphasizing community service and dialogue.

Refugees and host communities will likely see more collaborative initiatives that integrate faith-based teachings with practical assistance.

Summary

Amid Ramadan, Caritas Bangladesh is using the Christian season of Lent to foster understanding with Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar.

Through lessons on fasting, prayer, and service, the initiative bridges religious differences while providing much-needed social support to one of the world’s most vulnerable populations.

Bulleted Takeaways

• Caritas Bangladesh shares Lent teachings with Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar.

• The campaign emphasizes prayer, listening, and fasting as tools for reflection and service.

• Rohingya camps are densely populated, housing over 1 million refugees in cramped shelters.

• Many refugees cannot celebrate Eid al-Fitr due to poverty and displacement.

• Caritas has provided $45 million in support to 1.7 million individuals since 2017.

• Interfaith initiatives help build understanding between Christians and Muslims.