Desk Report:
BRAC University’s Centre for Peace and Justice (CPJ) has launched a Peace Café and a community library in the Rohingya camps of Cox’s Bazar. On the same day, an initiative was also undertaken to establish the “Rohingya History and Knowledge Centre” (RHKC). This centre will play a role in preserving Rohingya history, identity, and culture. Additionally, it will create opportunities for future generations to engage in education, research, and various community-based activities. To this end, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on Tuesday (September 15, 2026) with the Office of the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC).
CPJ’s Peace Café is an initiative designed to encourage and support female students in civic engagement and social entrepreneurship activities. Through this platform, various activities aimed at fostering peace and social harmony are conducted. Since 2018, four Peace Cafés have been established at universities in Dhaka, Mymensingh, and Rangpur with the support of UN Women.
CPJ’s Refugee Studies Unit is working in the Rohingya camps on education, research, capacity building, and advocacy. Its objective is to gain a better understanding of local realities and to build trust and social harmony between the refugee and local communities.
The Peace Café and community library have been set up in Rohingya Camp-4 in Cox’s Bazar. This will provide Rohingyas with the opportunity to read books. At the same time, it will serve as a space for exchanging views, pursuing knowledge, and learning. Rohingya youth, in particular, will be able to share their experiences and thoughts here. Beyond the pursuit of knowledge, this initiative will help foster new hope and possibilities regarding their future.
Present at the inauguration ceremony of the Peace Café and community library were BRAC University Treasurer Ariful Islam, CPJ Executive Director Shahariar Sadat, and Associate Director Mofakkharul Islam Toufiq. Later, at a ceremony held at the RRRC office in Cox’s Bazar, Ariful Islam, Treasurer of BRAC University, and Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Under this MoU, a ‘Rohingya History and Knowledge Centre’ will be established within the Rohingya camps. Shahriar Sadat, Executive Director of CPJ, and Mofak Kharul Islam Toufiq, Associate Director, were present on the occasion.
The RRRC office has allocated a specific site within the camp for the establishment of the Rohingya History and Knowledge Centre.
Also present at the signing ceremony were Additional Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Nazmul Islam Bhuiyan, Senior Assistant Secretary of the RRRC office Aftabuzzaman Al-Imran, and Manzoor Hasan, OBE, Institutional Advisor to CPJ.
Through these initiatives, BRAC University is contributing to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In particular, these initiatives will play a significant role in realizing SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).
