Photo-collected.
Ukhia/Cox’s Bazar/Representative/

All the five killed in the firing and clashes at the Balukhali refugee camp (Camp-8 West) in Cox’s Bazar are members of Myanmar’s armed group Arakan Salvation Army (Arsa).

Among the five killed, one is an Arsa commander, one is in charge and the rest are ordinary members. Members of the 8th Armed Police Battalion (APBN) in charge of security at the shelter identified the victims.

At around 5:30 am on Friday morning, there was a shooting and clash between Arsa and another armed group of Myanmar, Arakan Solidarity Organization (RSO), in the B-15, B-16 and B-17 block areas of Balukhali Shelter Camp (Camp-8 West) in Ukhiya. Three people died of gunshot wounds on the spot and two others died after being taken to IOM Hospital in Ukhia shelter camp.

The deceased persons are – Anwar Chadek (22), resident of H-49 block of Balukhali shelter camp (Camp-8W), Mohammad Hamim (21), resident of A-21 block of the same shelter camp, Md. resident of H-42 block of Balukhali shelter camp (Camp-10). Najibullah (32), Nurul Amin (22), a resident of B-17 Block of Madhurchhara Shelter (Camp-3) and another Rohingya aged 25 years.

All five members of ARSA claimed that 8 APBN Assistant Superintendent of Police (Operation and Media) Md. Farooq Ahmed said that one of the three people who died on the spot in the shooting was Anwar Chadek, the chief caretaker of H-49 block of Balukhali shelter camp (Camp-8 West). Deceased Najibullah was Arsa camp commander of Balukhali shelter camp (Camp-10). And the deceased Nurul Amin was an active member of ARSA of B-17 Block of Madhurchhara Shelter (Camp-3). The other two killed are said to be Arsa members. Further investigation is going on in this regard.

RSO’s dispute with Arsa has been mentioned for a long time. Farooq Ahmed said, the shootings and clashes between the two armed groups took place due to the control of the shelter camp, expansion of dominance and past enmity. APBN recovered one shotgun and one bullet from the spot. Legal action is being taken in connection with the murder of five people. Additional police have been deployed in the camp area. A raid is being conducted in the shelter camp to catch the terrorists.

Five Arsa members were killed simultaneously in the shelling that spread panic throughout the shelter camp. At least 150,000 Rohingyas live in Balukhali shelter camp (Camp-8, 9, 10, 11 and 12) in Ukhia. Some Rohingyas on the condition of anonymity said that Nabi Hossain, one of the drug smugglers and head of the Rohingya terrorist Nabi Bani, established a strong position in the Balukhali shelter camp (Camp-8 West). RSO joined hands with Nabi Hussain a year ago to stop Arsa. Arsa is trying to destabilize the situation by committing murders after Nabi Hussain Bahini and RSO supporters kidnapped Rohingya Majhids to take control of the camp.

A Rohingya leader on condition of anonymity said that around 5 am, 20-22 Arsa terrorists entered the Rohingya settlement of H block of Balukhali shelter camp (Camp-8 West) and started looking for some Rohingya mazhis (leaders). At this time, the uproar started among the Rohingyas. On receiving information, 15-20 terrorists of RSO reached the spot and surrounded the Arsa members, resulting in firing and clashes between the two sides, which spread to B-15, B-16 and B-17 block areas of the shelter.

According to Rohingya sources, Anwar Chadek, who was killed in the shooting, was the chief in-charge of H-49 block of Balukhali shelter camp (Camp-8 West). Yaba sale money, extortion money, arms-ammunition and looted goods are kept in the hands of Anwar. On his orders, after the kidnapping of Rohingya sailors, extortion, murder and murder were planned. Two years ago Najibullah, who was expelled from Camp-8 by Nabi Hussain’s forces, took refuge in the nearby Balukhali shelter camp (Camp-10). A few months ago, Najibullah was appointed as the commander of Arsa Camp-10. The common Rohingyas in the camp were fed up with his torture.
Abdur Rahim, a Rohingya of Balukhali shelter camp, said that the common Rohingyas are suffering from extreme fear due to the fact that five members of ARSA were killed in the firing with the RSO. Arsa can attack at any time to retaliate. Arsa has a strong position in all 33 refugee camps in Ukhia and Teknaf. There are also heavy weapons.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Ukhia police station Sheikh Mohammad Ali said that the police have identified the identities of four of the five victims. The other person has not been identified. Five bodies were recovered and sent to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy.

According to information provided by police and Rohingya leaders, at least 56 people have been killed in multiple clashes and shootings in Rohingya refugee camps in the past six months. Among them, 17 Rohingya sailors, 16 Arsa members, one volunteer and others are ordinary Rohingyas.