by Hafizur Rahman. Photo-Ro Morshid Rm
Camp 4, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh | 8 March 2026
A fire broke out on Sunday in Block D of Camp 4 in the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, destroying an office used for humanitarian activities and causing panic among nearby residents.
The fire reportedly started at the CARITAS office, where WASH activities and bamboo distribution are managed. The office is located near Obat Prantic Hospital beside Road 7.
Local sources said smoke and flames were seen rising from the office shortly after the fire began. The building was completely burned down during the incident.
Many structures in the camps are built from bamboo and tarpaulin, materials that can easily catch fire and allow flames to spread quickly. Refugees and community volunteers rushed to the scene and attempted to control the fire while waiting for additional assistance.
“We suddenly saw smoke coming from the CARITAS office,” a Rohingya resident told Rohingya Khobor. “People began shouting and running to help put out the fire.”
Another refugee said the construction materials made the situation more dangerous.
“The building was made of bamboo, so the fire spread very fast. We were afraid it might reach our shelters,” the resident said.
A community volunteer also described efforts to contain the fire.
“We tried to control the fire with whatever we had until more help arrived,” the volunteer said.
The exact cause of the fire remains unknown, and there has been no confirmed information about injuries. Authorities and camp volunteers are continuing to monitor the situation as refugees remain concerned about repeated fire incidents in the camps.
