Tensions escalate at Rohingya camps after violence

Tensions heightened at Cox's Bazar Rohingya camps following a fierce clash at Ukhiya camp on Tuesday that left four people dead.

Another Rohingya teenage boy, who sustained a bullet in a gunfight on Wednesday, died at a hospital in Cox's Bazar district.

The victim was identified as Shafiul Alam, 17, son of Jamal Hossain, a resident of Kutupalong camp.

Police arrested two Rohingya men in connection with the clash, said Sanjur Morshed, officer-in-charge of Ukhia Police Station.

The arrestees are Majhi Kala Boda and Mohammad Alam, residents of Kurupalong registered camp.

Meanwhile, police on Wednesday rescued eight people, including five Rohingya men, who were abducted on Monday, said Khalilur Rahman, in-charge of Kutupalong registered camp.

Two Rohingya men of E-block of the camp are still missing, said the official.

Meanwhile, angry local people blocked Cox's Bazar-Teknaf road at Noyapara, protesting the killing of two local people.

DIG's visit

Anwar Hossain, deputy inspector general of Chattogram range police, visited the Rohingya camp on Wednesday.

At the end of the visit, he exchanged views with the people of different organizations for hours at the office of the camp in-charge.

Talking to reporters, he said two Rohingya men have already been arrested in connection with the incident at the camp.

Evacuation

ISCG coordinator Saikat Biswas said NGO workers are not usually allowed to stay at the Rohingya camps after 4 pm.

However, all have been evacuated from the camp for security reasons amid the growing tensions at the camps.

Around 2,000 Rohingya men took shelter at Tabligh Jamaat Markaj in Kutupalong No 2 East Camp fearing attacks by terrorists.

By the time, 500 Rohingya families have been evacuated from Lombalshia camp, said Mahfuzur Rahaman, in-charge of Kutupalong one-stop camp.

Tuesday's incident

Four people were killed and 20 others injured in a turf war at a camp in Cox's Bazar's Ukhiya on Tuesday night.

The deceased were identified as siblings Mohammadullah alias Gias Uddin and Md Faruk, brothers of Rohingya leader Munna, Nurul Boshar, son of Dildar Ahmmed, and Nurul Huda, son of Nur Hossain, residents of Rongikhali area of Hneela union in Teknaf upazila.

Security beefed up

Additional members of law enforcement agencies have been deployed to fend off further trouble.

Ukhia Upazila Nirbahi Officer Nizam Uddin Ahmed said the situation at the camp is calm but a joint operation to arrest the terrorists is underway.

Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh

Bangladesh is currently hosting more than 1.1 million Rohingyas in the coastal district.

Factional clashes now occur more frequently at the camps.

During the last five days, eight Rohingyas were killed in clashes over establishing dominance.

It is unclear how the Rohingyas managed to get hold of firearms. There are allegations that some residents of the camps are involved in criminal activities.

Hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas fled their homeland in Myanmar's Rakhine state in 2017 after the Tatmadaw launched a brutal offensive targeting the mainly-Muslim ethnic minority.

The overwhelming number of refuge seekers were kept at makeshift camps of Cox's Bazar which borders Myanmar.

Bangladesh has been urging Myanmar to take back its nationals and the two sides even signed an agreement but there has been no progress.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said the Rohingyas are not only a threat to the security of Bangladesh but also the region.

Bangladesh has been urging the global community to take effective steps to resolve the crisis.

Last month, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen told the 27th ASEAN Regional Forum said there is a high possibility that uncertainty could be created in the region if there is no solution to the problem. This could frustrate hope for a peaceful, secure and stable region.

"Our fear is that, if this problem is not solved quickly, it may lead to pockets of radicalism," he said reminding all that terrorists have no borders and no faith.