Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) recovered rocket shells, grenades and heavy weapons from a den of Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) in the deep forest under Ukhia upazila of the district on Wednesday.
The elite force also arrested two members of the terrorist group, including one of its commanders.
Acting on a tip-off, RAB members conducted a raid in Bhoree Lal Pahar area under Rajapalong Union of the upazila in the morning and seized three rifles, five grenades, 10 locally-made hand grenades, a foreign revolver, nine 9MM pistols, a light gun (LG), three cartridges and 13 cocktails (crude bombs).
During the drive, they also arrested two Rohingya men — ARSA commander Master Salimullah, 38, and his associate Reaz, 27, while they were trying to flee from the area.
Later, a special team of bomb disposal unit of Bangladesh Army went to the spot and destroyed the explosives, grenades and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) at 1:00 pm for the sake of public security.
Speaking at a press briefing in the remote hill area of Ukhia upazila at noon, RAB Legal and Media Wing Director Commander Arafat Islam disclosed the information.
He said that RAB members encircled the entire Lal Pahar area during the operation. Sensing the presence of the law enforcers, the criminals opened fire on them while the RAB men also returned fire, he added.
For several days in the Rohingya camp, he said, some Rohingyas, including the head boatman, have been shot and killed. For this reason, RAB increased intelligence activities in the camp. Based on specific information, the hideout of Myanmar’s terrorist organisation (ARSA) was identified in deep forest near Ukhiya camp.
Arafat Islam further said that ARSA terrorist group is the current terror of the Rohingya camp. This terrorist group is involved in various criminal activities, including murder, abduction, robbery, extortion, arson and drugs, with an aim to establish dominance.
These terrorists also influence ordinary Rohingyas in Rohingya camps. If anyone opposes their criminal activities, they kidnap and kill them. Rohingya leader Master Mahibullah was killed by the terrorist group in 2021 as he was working for the resettlement of Rohingya citizens.
In 2022, a senior officer of the intelligence agency was killed in an attack by ARSA terrorists during a joint anti-narcotics operation by the intelligence agency and RAB. A RAB member was also seriously injured in the terrorist attack.
Commander Mohammad Arafat Islam said based on the preliminary investigation it was found that Master Salim entered Bangladesh in 2017 and started living in Camp No. 15 of Ukhiya.
While in Myanmar, he was posted as Arsa zone commander. He also served as the bodyguard of Arsa chief Ataullah Abu Ammar Jununi for two months.
After arriving in Bangladesh as a Rohingya refugee in 2017 he rejoined Arsa through Maulvi Akiz. He became involved in various crimes including murders, kidnappings, extortions and conflicts regarding spreading dominance. There are multiple cases against him for various crimes including 3 murder cases. And Riaz is his associate.
In the press briefing, it was mentioned that 64 Rohingya men and community leaders were killed by ARSA terrorists in 2023 and 16 Rohingyas so far in 2024 due to various reasons, including establishing dominance on Rohingya camps.
Apart from this, RAB was able to arrest 110 ARSA terrorists so far by raiding the camps and the areas adjacent to the camps. Besides, 51.71 kg of explosives, 12 foreign firearms, 53 locally-made firearms, 153 rounds of cartridges, 67 rounds of empty shells, 04 IDs and 35 cocktails were seized from them.
