By: Hafizur Rahman, Camp Correspondent
Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh – January 21, 2025
Muhammad Kasim, a resident of Jamtoli Refugee Camp (Camp 16), was abducted last Thursday near the camp and taken to the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, where he endured intense pressure and forced branding by his captors.
The kidnappers, allegedly working on behalf of the Arakan Army (AA), demanded a ransom of 200,000 Bangladeshi Taka before releasing Kasim on January 20. Kasim revealed that the AA forcibly tattooed his hand with their symbol, a visible mark of his ordeal.
Eyewitnesses and Kasim’s detailed testimony confirm the Arakan Army’s involvement, raising alarm over increasing security threats to refugees.
This incident underscores the urgent need for stronger security measures and investigations into transnational armed groups exploiting the vulnerability of Rohingya refugees.
