Doubts have arisen again about the security of Rohingya camps and the government agencies themselves have expressed concern about this, the attacks and murders of sources in various camps have expressed concern.
This concern came up in the meeting of the law and order cabinet of the country. In addition, the fear of a new Rohingya influx also came up in the meeting. For this, additional precautions have been taken based on intelligence information.
According to ninth meeting of the Cabinet on Law and Order, the head of an intelligence agency of the government told the meeting that crime and drug use inside the Rohingya camps are increasing day by day.
Members of various Myanmar separatist organizations are trying to expand their influence inside the camp. Attacks on those inside the camp who cooperated with various government agencies with information also increased. That is why it is necessary to increase surveillance and search inside the camp.
In the meeting, the secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief said that crime and drug use have increased inside the Rohingya camps. Attacks on those who cooperated with various government agencies inside the camp increased. Sections of the security fence around the camp are being cut.
The head of another intelligence agency said that it is not possible to ensure the security of the Rohingya camp area only with the security fence. A concerted effort is essential to reduce crime within Rohingya camps.
He said in the meeting that the tendency of using Myanmar mobile SIM is more among Rohingyas. They are using these SIMs to keep in touch with Rohingyas and others living in Myanmar. As a result, there are some problems in uncovering intelligence information.
He drew the meeting's attention to whether the Rohingyas could be allowed to use mobile company SIMs in any process in Bangladesh.
It was also informed in the meeting that the Rohingyas in Bangladesh are relatively well, seeing this situation, another 6-7 lakh Rohingyas from Myanmar may try to migrate to Bangladesh.
According to the special branch of the police, the conflict between the Arakan Army and the Rohingyas has been going on for a long time. Currently, the conflict between the Myanmar Army and the Arakan Army threatens to increase the number of Rohingyas again.
In the meeting, the border guards said that Myanmar is constructing a barbed wire fence on its part of the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, but there is no barbed wire fence on the Bangladesh side.
Currently, there is an armed conflict between the Myanmar Army and the Arakan Army in the border area. BGB are performing round the clock duty in this part of the border but it is insufficient. There is a danger that the Rohingyas waiting near the border will be pushed into the Bangladesh side at any time.
Therefore, a proposal was raised in the meeting to control movement by installing barbed wire fence, watch tower and CC cameras in this part from Ghumdhum point.
The Minister of Information and Broadcasting said in the meeting that some countries want the forcibly displaced Rohingya citizens staying in Bangladesh to be given employment in Bangladesh. But if this is done, it will not be possible to send these Rohingya citizens back to their own country.
The Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs said in the meeting that the national identity card is mandatory for the purchase of mobile SIM cards for the citizens of Bangladesh. Since the Rohingya citizens have not been given national identity cards or the present government has no plans to provide them, there is a need to review the law on providing mobile SIM cards to Rohingya citizens. Apart from this, Rohingya citizens have not been given mobile SIM cards for the sake of the country's security. Therefore, it will not be appropriate to take a decision in this meeting about providing SIM cards to Rohingyas.
As many decisions regarding Rohingya in the meeting: Construction of security fences around the camp within the stipulated time, continuing operations to catch arms and drug dealers in the camp, continuing strict surveillance at the border, intensifying joint night patrols from Ukhia to Teknaf, taking measures to remove land complications for Nayapara and Hoikong camps, strict surveillance on that day so that no one can enter illegally again from Myanmar, instructing companies not to sell SIM cards to Rohingyas under any circumstances and taking necessary steps for the international community to take initiative in Rohingya repatriation etc.
@The article published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on November 16, 2022 and rewriten in English by Tanvir Raihan
