Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar saw murder of at least 125 people in last five years. According to the camp sources, it has now become a ‘Valley of Death.’
One fraction of Rohingyas settled down on Bangladesh has been involved in killing in order to show dominance and taking control of crime activities. As a result the number of killing incidents increased and the local administration are in serious struggle to pull the reign in this killing row.
Cox’s Bazar Superintendent of Police (SP) Mahfuzul Islam said, “It has been observed that the recent killings in the Rohingya camps was the result of personal conflict, relocation from one camp to another, attempt to showing dominance of own group, in addition to unemployment and depression. We’re trying to control the overall situation of the camps.”
Former diplomat and military analysts Major (Retd.) Emdadul Islam said, “There’re many reasons behind the conflict and killings in Rohingya camps. One of the reasons was the neighboring country’s evil attempt to establish the Rohingyas as extremists and want to show that their presence made the camps conflict-ridden.”
According to the information of Cox’s Bazar Police, from August 25, 2017 to 28 October 2022, there were at least 125 killing incidences in 32 Rohingya camps. Last week saw murder of six people.
From investigation it has been known that almost every day there was incidence of conflict in the camps. Taking control of the camp areas, drug and arms dealings along with provocation from ‘a neighboring state’ are some main reasons behind these killing incidences.
Rohingya resident Shirajul Haque Abrar, who is involved in the job of Rohingya repatriation, said, “Many of the Rohingyas took shelter in Bangladesh in last three decade. However, the conflicting situation escalated to a great extent after the Rohingyas began to come in huge number in 2017. The camps are not habitable anymore for the Rohingyas to live in peacefully.”
According to the National Taskforce on Rohingya, after August 25 of 2017, Bangladesh saw presence of 11 lakh Rohingyas. Around 30,000 Rohingya babies are being born each year in these camps. Now, five years after the arrival of Rohingyas in Bangladesh, their number increased to more than 12 lakh.
Meanwhile, to control the conflicting situation of the Rohingya camps, ‘Operation Root Out’ has been conducted by Armed Police Battalion. In this 3-day long drive, 60 people have been arrested. Already, there were cases against them on the charge of murder, plundering, snatching etc.
APBN assistant superintendent of police (Media) Md Faruque Ahmed said, “Operation Root Out was conducted against those who are involved in violating the peaceful environment of the camps. Besides, patrolling in camps has been fostered.”
@The news appeared on print and online verions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on November 1, 2022 and rewritten in English by Lutful Hoque
