Khairul Amin is Chairman of the European Rohingya Council (ERC) and a long-standing Rohingya community leader and advocate. For more than three decades, his work has focused on institution-building, education, community representation, human rights, justice and strengthening the collective voice of the Rohingya people.
Early Life, Education and Community Work
Khairul Amin was born in 1971 in Maungdaw, Arakan State, Myanmar. He grew up in a family strongly connected to faith and learning. His late father was an Islamic scholar who devoted his life to teaching Hadith and Islamic jurisprudence.
In 1991, shortly after completing his matriculation examination, he was forced to flee to Bangladesh because of escalating persecution against the Rohingya. He became a refugee in Morissa refugee camp. That experience became a major turning point in his life and strengthened his commitment to community service and advocacy.
At the age of 20, he co-founded the Rohingya Refugee Relief and Coordination Committee (RRRCC) in 1991, an initiative established to support Rohingya refugees and help coordinate humanitarian relief.
Khairul Amin later continued his higher secondary education and earned a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM).
While living in Malaysia, he co-founded the Rohingya Student Development Movement (RSDM) in 1998 and served as its Finance Secretary until 2001. The organisation worked to encourage education and development opportunities for Rohingya youth.
After moving to Norway in 2005, Khairul Amin co-founded the Rohingya Community in Norway (RCN). He served as Finance Secretary until 2011 and was then elected Chairman, serving from 2011 to 2015. His work in Norway focused on strengthening Rohingya community organisation, raising awareness of the Rohingya situation and engaging with Norwegian institutions and authorities.
Leadership in the European Rohingya Council
Khairul Amin was among the founders of the European Rohingya Council in 2012 and was the first elected Chairman of ERC. He served as Chairman from 2012 to 2015. From 2015 to 2024, he served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees, helping provide continuity, institutional oversight and strategic direction to the organisation.
In 2024, he returned to the position of Chairman of ERC and continues to lead the organisation. His leadership has focused on strengthening ERC as a credible European Rohingya institution working for justice, accountability, rights, dignity, education and meaningful international representation.
Education, Advocacy and International Engagement
Education has remained one of Khairul Amin's central priorities. Under ERC's leadership and engagement, the organisation developed strong relations with the Turkish government and Türkiye Scholarships (YTB). This cooperation has helped create pathways for hundreds of Rohingya students to access higher education in Türkiye.
ERC continues to view education as essential to the long-term future of the Rohingya people, particularly at a time when prolonged displacement, persecution and restrictions on learning have left many young Rohingya without reliable access to formal education.
Throughout his public work, Khairul Amin has participated in advocacy with governments, international institutions, civil society organisations and Rohingya communities. His work has centred on justice and accountability for crimes committed against the Rohingya, protection of Rohingya identity and rights, access to education, political representation, and the creation of conditions for a safe and dignified future in Arakan.
Wider Rohingya Engagement and Leadership
In addition to his ERC responsibilities, Khairul Amin is a founding member and General Secretary of the Arakan Rohingya National Council (ARNC). Through his work across different Rohingya institutions, he has sought to strengthen cooperation, unity and coordinated representation at national, regional and international levels.
Khairul Amin's work reflects a long-term commitment to institution-building, education, diplomacy and community empowerment. As Chairman of ERC, he continues to work with the Board of Trustees, the Executive Body, Rohingya communities and international partners to advance a future based on justice, equality, dignity, peace and the full restoration of Rohingya rights.
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