by Hafizur Rahman, Teknaf, October 8, 2025
Bangladeshi security forces arrested 37 Rohingya refugees and one local woman in the Nila area of Teknaf on Wednesday morning for living outside official refugee camps, according to local sources.
Operation Conducted by RAB-15
The arrests took place during an operation by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-15) in Block 4 of East Pankhali, Nila area. The Rohingya refugees had been staying in rented houses outside the designated camp areas.
A RAB-15 official told Rohingya Khobor, “The Rohingya refugees were found staying outside the camp area without legal documents. The local woman who rented the houses to them was also arrested.”
Officials said the detainees were living there illegally and are expected to be sent back to the camps after questioning.
Refugees Seek Better Living Conditions
More than one million Rohingya refugees currently live in overcrowded camps in Cox’s Bazar and surrounding areas after fleeing military violence and persecution in Myanmar’s Rakhine State. Many have tried to move outside the camps to find better shelter, work opportunities, and freedom of movement, despite strict government restrictions.
Calls for Greater Freedom and Rights
Human rights groups have long urged the Bangladeshi authorities to allow refugees access to education, employment, and limited freedom of movement, arguing that confinement inside the camps worsens their suffering.
However, the government maintains that unrestricted movement could create administrative and security challenges in host communities.
The latest arrests highlight the ongoing tension between security enforcement and humanitarian concerns surrounding the lives of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.
