Ahamed Ullah: Most of the Rohingyas sheltered at 32 camps in Cox’s Bazar have been engaged in different criminal activities, including murder, kidnapping, rape, arms and drug smuggling, sexual harassment, illegal SIM trading and robbery.
Even, activities of Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) are being seen at the camps, said an investigation report placed before the court after the murder of Rohingya leader Mohibullah.
In the last five years, around 101 murders have taken place in the Rohingya camps centring on smuggling and establishing of supremacy, shows a record stored with law enforcement agencies.
It is alleged that each of the Rohingya camps turns a safe haven for criminals.
Armed Police Battalion (APBn)-14 Commanding Officer Syed Harun-Or-Rashid told the Daily Sun that they are on high alert to avert any untoward incidents at the camps.
“Although some sporadic incidents have taken place, we are looking into the incidents to identify those involved with the crimes,” he said.
According to sources, the majority of the Rohingyas are involved in criminal activities as the law enforcement agencies in charge of the security for the camps are getting pictures of Rohingya crimes.
Rohingyas have not only killed some fellowmen (Rohingyas) but also some Bangladeshis.
The most worrying matter is that that Rohingyas are now in the majority in Ukhiya and Teknaf areas while Bangladeshis are now a minority there.
That is why the locals are worried about how long the situation in the Rohingya camp will be under the control of the security forces. Therefore, the longer the repatriation takes, the worse the situation in the camp is thought by the locals of Cox’s Bazar.
On August 10, two Rohingya community leaders were shot dead at a refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar’s Ukhiya. The incident occurred around midnight on Tuesday in Palankhanli Union-15 Jamtali Camp’s C-Block.
Mohammad Kamran Hossain, additional superintendent of Police (Media) of 8 APBN, who is in charge of law and order in the Rohingya camp, said, “It is believed that 8 to 10 miscreants have planned the murder due to previous enmity.”
On August 11, Armed Police Battalion (APBn) arrested three persons over the killing of two Rohingya community leaders. They were arrested in special raids in different places of the camp.
According to local information, law enforcers started anti-drug drives across the country from May 4, 2018.
A total of 284 people, including four women, were killed in Cox’s Bazar district alone from May 4, 2018 to July 28 in 2021.
Of them, 112 are Rohingyas. Of them, 168 people died in Teknaf ‘gunfight’ alone.
On August 1, a Rohingya named Nurul Amin, 26, was allegedly shot dead at Balukhali Camp in Ukhiya upazila of Cox’s Bazar by miscreants.
On September 29, 2021, Mohibullah, 46, chair of the Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Human Rights (ARSPH), was shot and killed by unidentified gunmen in Kutupalong camp in Cox’s Bazar.
Since this incident, the family members of the deceased have been blaming the Rohingya terrorist group Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA).
Then on October 22 in 2021, terrorists attacked a madrasa in Camp No. 18 and shot and killed six students and teachers. A number of murders occurred inside the camp after Mohibullah murder.
Even the issue of ARSA’s presence in the Rohingya camp came up in various media, but it was denied by the law enforcement agencies.
Last June 13, in the investigation report of Rohingya leader Mohibullah’s murder, police officially acknowledged the presence of ARSA members in the refugee camp for the first time.
According to the investigation report, Mohibullah was killed on the orders of ARSA chief Ataullah Abu Ammar Jununi. ARSA members killed Mohibullah as he was becoming a popular leader rather than ARSA chief.
The report also shows that ARSA’s activities were being obstructed by Mohibullah’s organisation Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Human Rights (ARSPH).
General Rohingyas alleged the picture inside the camp is completely different at night. They are used to seeing armed men roaming around the camp at night. Many of these gunmen identified themselves as members of the ARSA. There are also some local groups.
From the outside, this refugee camp seems calm for the time being, but the unrest inside is gradually increasing, they said.
According to sources more than 20 organised groups inside the camp. However, there are reports of some kind of activity in the name of ARSA or Harakah al-Yaqin, RSO and Islamic Mahaj organisation.
There are allegations that representatives of the Myanmar government are in contact with most of the terrorist groups based in the Rohingya camps. The Myanmar government is giving money to the terrorist group to destabilize the camp.
It was also heard that there are some criminal groups like Munna Group and Hakim Dakat Bahini. Those are allegedly involved in various crimes including drug smuggling, robbery, kidnapping, extortion.
Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Mamunur Rashid told reporters that Rohingyas are being killed for their own reasons and it is affecting the law and order situation in Cox’s Bazar.
But, the criminals are being identified through the watch tower, he said.
At present, more than 11 lakh Rohingyas have taken shelter in camps, resulting in the destruction of a large amount of forest land and environment.
They are reducing forest and causing environmental damage to the area by cutting down trees. Not only that, every year more than 35,000 children are born in Rohingya camps.
