Living Under Restriction: Structural Exclusion, Distress, and Security Perceptions among Rohingya Refugees

Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh live under one of the most restrictive encampment regimes in the world. Formal work is prohibited, mobility is tightly controlled, and humanitarian agencies manage most aspects of daily life. Despite the prominence of security concerns and widespread discussion of social tensions in the camps, little empirical research examines how structural exclusion shapes psychosocial wellbeing and everyday security perceptions. Drawing on pilot survey data from 210 respondents, this working paper assesses four interrelated domains of exclusion—economic, social, political, and digital—and analyses their associations with psychological distress, refugee–host estrangement, and perceived youth vulnerability to criminal networks. The findings show that structural exclusion strongly predicts higher levels of distress and estrangement, while livelihood participation, even in modest forms, has a stabilising effect: work days and involvement in programme activities are associated with lower distress and reduced relational strain. Respondents consistently reported that youth vulnerability arises from unemployment, prolonged uncertainty, and restricted movement rather than from individual behaviours. These results challenge prevailing assumptions within refugee governance and highlight how exclusion itself produces many of the insecurities observed in the camps. The paper argues that restrictive work policies may undermine protection and stability by deepening distress and eroding social cohesion. A rights-based, evidence-driven approach—one that expands livelihood opportunities, enhances agency, and reduces unnecessary constraints—offers a more effective and humane pathway for managing protracted displacement.