Mohiuddin Jewel, Chattogram
Local residents of Teknaf and Ukhiya, two of the upazilas of coastal Cox’s Bazar, complain against Rohingyas committing from petty to violent crimes disturbing peace in the areas.
Local people and police say that a group of Rohingyas are known to be involved in mainly trafficking drugs, women, kidnapping, looting, killing, and robbery. In the last 4 years, around 3,000 Rohingyas have been accused in 1,298 cases.
Displaced by the violence in Myanmar, the Rohingyas have been fleeing their homeland and took refuge in Bangladesh, most of who crossed the border since August 25, 2017. Gradually, more than 11 lakh Rohingyas took refuge in 34 camps in Ukhia and Teknaf of Cox's Bazar, including about 3.5 lakh Rohingya refugees who had already settled in Cox’s Bazar earlier in 1992.
As the days go by, a section of Rohingyas is getting involved in serious crimes. They have been charged with 12 different types of crimes including murder, kidnapping, drug, women and weapons trafficking and robbery.
Every day Rohingya citizens are being detained from one or another camp. Besides committing horrible crimes among themselves, they are also attacking the local people.
It is learnt that the local people are fed up with continuous crimes committed by the Rohingyas who are known to be refugees having enjoyed all facilities for living but some of them ungrateful to such arrangements continue to be involved in crimes just for money.
In the latest incident, Rohingya terrorists raided resident of Mohammad Ali's in Huaikang, in Teknaf at around 3:30 am on August 14. Failing to find Ali they attacked and stabbed his wife Mohsena Akhter to death.
On the night of June 30, locals Mahmudul Karim and Mizanur Rahman were abducted by Rohingyas on their way back from Huaikang Shamlapur Road.
Although Mizan returned paying ransom two days later, the armed Rohingya terrorists demanded Tk 1 lakh from Mahmudul Karim. Failing to realize the ransom money, they left his dead body in the forest.
Besides, Teknaf Sadar Union Awami League president Sirajul Islam was killed by Rohingyas along Abdur Rashid, the office bearer of Huaikang High School, and Omar Farooq, a Juba League leader from Jadimura area.
According to the information from Cox's Bazar District Police, there were 76 cases against Rohingyas for various crimes in 2017. But this year the number of accused has increased to 649.
When contacted, Baharchhara UP Chairman Aziz Uddin told Bangladesh Post that the local people find it difficult to move freely in the areas due to disturbing ‘element’ within Rohingyas. It is important to control them strictly.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Teknaf police station Hafizur Rahman told Bangladesh Post that Rohingya miscreants are committing various misdeeds while enjoying peaceful life living free of cost as refugees in Bangladesh.
“We have already conducted operations and detained several Rohingyas,” he added.
