Original version

BBC World Service Online

The Fifth Floor

Factual: Life Stories

Global stories from the BBC’s 40 Language Services, with Faranak Amidi

Faranak Amidi presents global stories from the Fifth Floor, home to the BBC’s 40 Language Services.

Faranak Amidi presents global stories from the Fifth Floor, home to the BBC’s 40 Language Services

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service East Asia

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

The Fifth Floor: Inside Myanmar's Rakhine State

Documentaries

Visiting Rohingya refugee camp

21/07/2017 GMT

Inside Myanmar's Rakhine State

BBC World Service - The Fifth Floor, Inside Myanmar's Rakhine State

Burnt out mosques, segregated schools, and refugee camps: what now for the Rohingya?

Rohingya muslims in  Bangladesh and Rakhine state; Congo river journey; Africa's ex-footballers; Indian  superstar  singer controversy; Iran's golden age.  With David Amanor.

This week a Thai court convicted 60 people for human trafficking, with victims including Rohingya people.  Rohingya are a muslim minority in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar, but the Burmese government doesn't recognise them as citizens, and five years ago large numbers began to flee their homes after becoming victims of widespread violence and abuse.  Rohmatin Bonasir of BBC Indonesian recently went to Rakhine State, where many of the Rohingya live, to visit an Indonesian funded school there, as well as a refugee camp in Bangladesh.

Boat ride down the Congo
BBC Africa journalists frequently go to great lengths for a story, like Catherine Byaruhanga who undertook a gruelling journey up the river Congo in a motorised dugout canoe. 

After the final whistle
Many dream of making it as professional footballers and it's easy to see why: luxury travel, huge paycheques, the adulations of fans.  But what happens when it all finishes?  Stanley Kwenda from BBC Africa has been finding out.  

Musical differences
A R Rahman is a hugely popular singer and composer at home in India, and this week filled Wembley Arena with music lovers.  So why did so many fans start leaving?  Turns out it comes down to language - Hindi versus Tamil.  Rahul Joglekar is a Hindi speaker with BBC news, and Sangeetha Rajan of BBC Tamil are both fans and shed light on the story.

My country's 'golden age'  
For many Iranians Cyrus the Great, who ruled ancient Persia 2,500 years ago, symbolises their country's golden age.  Including BBC Persian's Feranak Amidi.

And Fifi Haroon casts a humorous eye over the week's stranger stories.

Image: BBC Indonesia's Rohmatin Bonasir holding a Rohingya child in Bangladesh refugee camp
Credit: BBC

Accessibility links

Programme Index

The Fifth Floor

Inside Myanmar's Rakhine State

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service Online

About BBC World Service