Inside the world's largest refugee settlement, where nearly a million people live in limbo.

Countries & Cities · Published 30 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Kutupalong is more than a camp; it is a sprawling, densely populated urban area in Bangladesh. Home to nearly one million Rohingya refugees, this settlement has become a site of intense geopolitical friction, environmental strain, and a persistent struggle for basic human rights amidst a backdrop of forced isolation.

Originating in 1991 following the Burmese military's Operation Pyi Thaya, Kutupalong expanded exponentially after August 2017, when hundreds of thousands of Rohingya fled systemic violence in Myanmar. Today, it stands as the world's largest refugee camp. The settlement is a landscape of extreme density, where hundreds of thousands of people occupy just 13 square kilometres, resulting in a population density of over 46,000 people per square kilometre. The infrastructure consists largely of flimsy shelters perched on steep, landslide-prone hillsides, leaving residents perpetually vulnerable to monsoon floods.

The camp's growth has triggered significant environmental and social friction. The construction of the settlement required the destruction of 8,000 acres of forest, leading to conflicts with endangered Asian elephants whose migratory routes were disrupted. Tensions with local Bangladeshi communities have also risen, fueled by concerns over labor competition and illicit trade. In response, the government has implemented restrictive measures, including the construction of barbed-wire perimeters and a long-standing, controversial blackout of high-speed internet and mobile services, which critics argue has severely hampered public health responses and emergency communication.

The Bangladeshi government has repeatedly sought to reduce the camp's population through repatriation to Myanmar or relocation to Bhasan Char, a remote silt island in the Bay of Bengal. Both initiatives have faced fierce resistance from the Rohingya, who cite fears of continued persecution in Myanmar and environmental hazards on the island. Despite international pressure from human rights organizations and aid agencies, the standoff continues. As of 2024, the camp remains a site of profound uncertainty, where the daily survival of nearly a million people is caught between the state's security priorities and the refugees' fundamental demands for safety and agency.

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