Violence and crime has been key words in the lifestyle of Rohingya refugees in various camps spread around the south eastern regions of Bangladesh. The lack of security in these areas has prompted various criminal activities both inside the camps and outside. Refugees have fled from the camp, gotten involved in arms and drug dealing, taken part in human trafficking and the rate of internal feuds is over the roof. It goes without saying how volatile the situation has become since they first took shelter in Bangladesh.
Hundreds of different cases have been filed with different police stations against Rohingyas for their involvement in various crimes. Over the stretch of last two years some 60,000 Rohingyas have been arrested. Several clashes have already been reported between groups inside the camps which have left many refugees dead. Also, the state of unemployment, hunger and, most of all, the uncertain future has been catalytic for the Rohingyas to be prone to committing crimes.
The fluctuating circumstance created by the Myanmar
authority in taking back the Rohingyas has been
causing the formation of the APBn battalions to be delayed
Some of them are getting involved in crimes such as drug and human trafficking, hijacking, gang robbery, rape and murder. Reports have been published in this daily that the complex nature of the camps’ poor infrastructure poses varying challenges for authorities to maintain security. Even though two new battalions of APBn have been instructed to be formed to cope with this situation, the fluctuating circumstance created by the Myanmar authority in taking back the Rohingyas has been causing the formation of the battalions to be delayed.
However, since such criminal activities are going on in these camps, it has created a precarious situation for many of the dwellers. Women and children are especially facing severe problems. Previous reports published in this daily have shown that many of them have fallen victim to sexual violence, harassment and trafficking.
But, to solve all problems there is no other way than repatriating the Rohingyas. The international community must come together in this regard to put due pressure on Myanmar to reintegrate the Rohingya back into their homeland.
