This article discusses the impact of Rohingya refugee settlements on the local environment and increasing social tensions between the refugees and local residents. Drawing on the qualitative field data from Rohingyas, local residents and various government and non-government organisations, it focuses on the root causes of the environmental loss. It also portrays the viewpoints of both Rohingyas and locals on the socio-environmental crisis. The study found that the massive Rohingya influx created a severe pressure on the local environment in Cox’s Bazar while most of the cultivable lands, hills and forestlands were occupied for their settlements. They have put the local wildlife and the entire ecosystem at risk, and disrupted the ecological habitations. Apart from endangering environment and biodiversity, the Rohingyas’ frequent access to natural resources has fuelled socio-economic tensions between the locals and the Rohingyas. However, there is a growing tendency of generalization in blaming the Rohingyas for socio-environmental crisis in all sphere due to their visible interactions with the environmental resources. The study argues that as the blaming approach does not help; the root causes should be redressed through the socio-economic and environment-friendly plans and policies to find a sustainable solution to the crisis.

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Located in the south-east corner of Bangladesh, the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) have a history of a vicious conflict between its Bengali settlers and the Paharis, specifically the indigenous community, the Pahari-adivasis. The region’s already volatile background further escalated thanks to the nation-building approach that was being followed by the state after Bangladesh became independent in 1971. This inclination triggered an insurgency movement whose leaders demanded regional autonomy and a recognition of their identity so that people could lead a life of dignity. To quell the movement, the state resorted to military force. Later to introduce peace, the CHT Peace Accord was signed in 1997. However, though it did succeed in bringing about an element of stability, the accord failed in its larger objective as it excluded the engagement of the larger mass of Pahari people. Just over twenty years after the accord was signed, we examine, through a research study, why it neither lead to sustainable peace nor was it successful in its goal of conflict management.