The recent killing of two more Rohingya refugees again reminds that the law and order situation in the Cox's Bazar camps is getting deteriorated and complicated day by day with no sign of improvement. Two Rohingya refugees were shot dead early Thursday (October 27) by unidentified criminals at block C of the camp number 17 of Ukhiya of Kutupalong. The deceased was identified as Ayatullah (40), son of Kefayet Ullah, and Yasin (30), son of Mohammad Qasim, residents of Block C of the camp 17.
Earlier on October 18 night a Rohingya was killed at refugee camp in Ukhiya of Cox’s Bazar while two Rohingya leaders were stabbed to death in another refugee camp of the area on October 15. At least 11 Rohingyas were killed in the current month while 27 people have been killed inside the camps during the last five months, of whom nine were serving in voluntary community leadership roles such as ‘majhi’ and head ‘majhi’.
Several killings happened across the refugee camps in the last five years. At least 20 organised armed gangs are now active in the Rohingya refugee camps, according to media reports and law enforcement agencies. One hundred twenty Rohingyas were killed in the last five years in internal conflicts among these gangs while 109 others including three women died in gunfights with security forces.
We are witnessing bloodshed in the camps for no reason, while drugs are being trafficked in from Myanmar. Earlier, the killing of Mohammad Mohib Ullah, a prominent community leader who campaigned for the Rohingya’s safe repatriation, brought the issue of security and crimes in the camps into sharp focus both at home and abroad.
After the murder some measures were taken to bring the security situation under control. So, the growing violence and crimes can go beyond control, if an immediate measure is not taken in this regard.
Since August 25 in 2017, Bangladesh has been hosting over 1.2 million forcefully displaced Rohingyas in Cox's Bazar district and most of them arrived there after a military crackdown by Myanmar, which the UN called a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing" and other rights groups dubbed as "genocide". Since then, several Rohingyas formed at least 20 gangs, who are now involved in serious crimes like arms and drugs peddling, human trafficking, gold smuggling, kidnapping and killing. They are also committing robbery, burglary, cyber crime, sexual harassment and running illegal SIM and hundi trading. These organised displaced Rohingya armed groups are also running juvenile gangs in order serve their purposes. Besides, they are also grabbing the local people’s lands in many ways.
The prolonged uncertainty of repatriation is
enticing Rohingyas to get involved in criminal
activities. Therefore, the government should
conduct immediate joint operation in the Rohingya
camps to prevent serious criminal activities
like murder and trafficking of contraband drugs
After the dusk, the refugee camps become safe haven for all criminal activities and a sense of foreboding fills the air. Apart from law and order, the environment of Ukhia in Cox's Bazar, which has a deep forest, has been ruined due to staying of the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals. They are reducing the forest by cutting tress and causing great environmental hazards in the area.
Myanmar, however, has not taken back a single Rohingya in the last five years yet while repatriation attempts failed twice due to trust deficit among the forcibly displaced people about their safety and security in Rakhine state. Therefore, Rohingyas are becoming frustrated due to protracted uncertainty over their repatriation which has a potential risk as it entices many of them to get involved in criminal activities.
Around 45,000 Rohingya babies are being born every year. Bangladesh government has developed temporary shelter for the Rohingyas in Bhashanchar Island with all the facilities where 30,000 Rohingyas have so far been shifted. But local people of Cox's Bazar are facing serious difficulties and sufferings because of them (Rohingyas).
The relocation arrangements can not be a permanent solution. The UN, other foreign countries and right bodies now should come forward and extend all out cooperation to Bangladesh in order to ensure smooth repatriation of Rohingyas.
There is an impact on social security and social stability of Bangladesh due to the presence of over 1.1 million Rohingyas here. As it is a big threat to our national security, all stakeholders should sincerely work to find a solution to the Rohingya crisis.
On October 26, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming said Beijing’s basic intention is to resolve all regional disputes in an “Asian Way” instead of heeding western suggestions to ensure peace and stability in this region.
Chinese ambassador to Myanmar has been engaged with the Naypyidaw authorities to create conducive environment in Rakhine so that Rohingyas can go back to their land of origin. The Myanmar authority is positive to take back Rohingyas, but currently they are waiting for seizing the current conflict in Rakhine state to commence the repatriation, according to Beijing observation.
Bangladesh and Myanmar also held several meetings of the Joint Working Group (JWG) regarding repatriation of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Bangladesh to their homeland in Rakhine state of Myanmar. Bangladesh called upon Myanmar early commencement of repatriation to lessen the colossal burden of hosting the displaced Rohingya people.
The country stressed on expediting the verification process of the Rohingyas to begin their repatriation to their place of origin in Rakhine State of Myanmar.
The prolonged uncertainty of repatriation is enticing Rohingyas to get involved in criminal activities. Therefore, the government should conduct immediate joint operation in the Rohingya camps to prevent serious criminal activities like murder and trafficking of contraband drugs. Apart from joint operation, intelligence activities will also have to be beefed up inside the refugee camps.
S. M. Mizanur Rahman is working as Assistant Editor at Bangladesh Post
