Terrorist acts have increased in Rohingya camps at Ukhiya and Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar in recent times as different armed groups are frequently killing Rohingya leaders and volunteers over establishing supremacy in the camps, drug trafficking and previous enmity.
Four Rohingyas have been killed and two others injured in three separate incidents at Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar in a span of last 24 hours.
The deceased were identified as Md Jobair, 18, a resident of No. 15 camp, Anwar Sadek, 17 and Abul Kashem, 34, of No. 17 camp, and Imam Hossain, 22, of No. 4 camp.
Shamim Hossain, Officer-in-cCharge (OC) of Ukhiya Police Station, told the Bangladesh Post that ‘Myanmar’s separatist armed groups Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) and Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO) were primarily suspected to be involved in the terror incident.”
Some 15 ARSA members opened fire and attacked RSO members with sharp weapons on Tuesday night, leaving four Rohingyas injured. Later, two of them – Jobayer, and Anwar Sadek— succumbed to their injuries on way to the hospital, the OC said.
He said the injured two others were undergoing treatment at the Médecins Sans Frontières Hospital.
On the same night, Abul Kashem, 47, who had been vocal against Arsa and working to establish peace in his camp was dragged out of his house and was fatally shot multiple times at 7:30pm, the OC said.
Earlier on the day, a gang of 10-12 people shot a Rohingya youth Imam Hossain of Rohingya Camp-4 in Ukhiya between 2.30pm and 3.00 pm on Tuesday. Imam Hussain died on the spot.
OC Shamim said two Rohingya terrorist groups were locked in the gun battle over establishing
supremacy in the camps. “Investigation is underway to find out who are behind the incident. We are conducting cooperation to arrest the terrorists,” he added.
At least nine people, including the former head of the camp, were killed in the last 15 days from November 20 to December 5.
Most of the Rohingya murder victims are the members of the camp management committee, Majhi, sub-Majhi, volunteers and night guards. Panic has gripped Rohingya camps following the incident. Locals around the camp are also living in fear.
According to sources, the main target of the terrorist groups is the people who support Rohingya repatriation.
Many Rohingyas said that they are being killed in the Rohingya camps to prevent their repatriation. “We have remained silent about the repatriation process in fear.”
Cox’s Bazar Police Superintendent Mahfuzul Islam told the Bangladesh Post observing the situation in the Rohingya camps. These murders have been committed by two groups over establishing supremacy in the camps.
“We are trying to bring the situation of the camp under control. Besides, we have conducted joint operations in regular interval” he added.
