Justice For All Expresses Concern On Violence In Rohingya Camps

Locals Injure Over 100 Rohingya in Refugee Camps in Bangladesh 

Justice For All’s Burma Task Force is alarmed at escalating violence in Bangladesh’s Rohingya refugee camps. A tragic incident unfolded on August 21 at the Nayapara refugee camp in south Bangladesh. The Armed Police Battalion (APBn), a unit in Bangladesh’s police force meant to provide security in the camps, is doing the opposite. We have received reports from Rohingya sources in the camps, that the APBn, in collaboration with other local Bangladeshis, attacked hundreds of Rohingya men, women and children, injuring many with gunfire. Many have been hospitalized due to this violence. This is the first time such a severe incident has occurred within the camps. It marks a troubling escalation in Bangladesh’s poor treatment of Rohingya refugees.

At approximately 8:35 a.m. on August 21, more than 400 locals reportedly stormed the Nayapara Registered Camp, targeting a World Food program food shop, the Action Against Hunger (ACF) office, and other NGO offices. After ransacking these facilities, they entered Block B of the camp, where they brutally beat the Rohingya residents, looted their shops and caused widespread panic. When the Rohingya attempted to defend themselves, the assailants briefly retreated, only to return later with APBn Battalion-16, who opened fire on the refugees.

As a result, 15 refugees, including women and children, sustained injuries from rubber bullets. Some were critically injured and had to be transferred to Cox’s Bazar for emergency treatment. Over 100 others suffered severe injuries from being beaten with sticks or hacked, though no fatalities have been reported.

This incident appears to be linked to accusations that a Rohingya armed group assaulted two locals. In retaliation, the APBn police, together with the locals, launched this unprovoked attack on innocent Rohingya refugees.

The local village administration has issued a list of eight demands, some of which are unjust and cruel to the Rohingya, such as demands to halt the illegal entry of Rohingya into Bangladesh, expel Rohingya students from schools outside the camps due to allegations of leaking information to foreign entities, and prevent Rohingya from taking NGO volunteer jobs inside or outside the camps.

While we recognize locals are poor villagers who have been generous over the last six years, we urge them not to withdraw their support for the Rohingya refugees, as it is leading to more violence against the refugees. The village’s demands have exacerbated the current violence.

Justice For All strongly condemns the violence perpetrated against the Rohingya, who are already enduring unimaginable hardships. The APBn police were deployed to protect these vulnerable communities –  instead they have contributed to Rohingya suffering and endangering their safety. We denounce calls by local Bangladeshis to prevent those Rohingya who are currently stranded at the Teknaf riverbank entry to Bangladesh and instead repatriate them to Myanmar.

We are distraught by these developments and are investigating the circumstances surrounding this attack. Justice For All calls on the Bangladeshi government and the international community to ensure the safety and security of the Rohingya people. The perpetrators of this violence, whether they be locals or law enforcement officials, must be held accountable for their actions. The Rohingya deserve protection, dignity and justice.  We urge immediate action to address these grave human rights violations.