By Hafizur Rahman
Teknaf, July 30, 2025 — In a pre-dawn operation on Monday, members of the 16th Armed Police Battalion (APBn) conducted a special raid in various blocks and hilly zones of the Leda refugee camp in Teknaf, arresting five young Rohingya men on charges of online gambling and interfering with the activities of a mobile court.
According to APBn officials, three of the arrested individuals—aged between 16 and 24—were found playing online games involving monetary transactions, which the authorities interpreted as gambling. The remaining two were detained for reportedly protesting or obstructing the ongoing police operation and mobile court proceedings.
The camp-based mobile court, led by executive magistrates, sentenced the three young men to three days of simple imprisonment under the colonial-era Gambling Act of 1867. The individuals were identified as Shahidul Islam (24), Md. Anas (16), and Md. Zaker (19).
Two others, Imrul Kabir (22) and Nurul Afsar (19), residents of Block A in Camp-24, were sentenced under Section 186 of the Penal Code of 1860, which penalizes interference with public servants in the course of their duties. They were also given three days of simple imprisonment.
All five were later handed over to Teknaf Model Police Station for further procedures.
While the APBn emphasized the operation as part of ongoing efforts to “maintain law and order” in the camps, rights observers have often raised concerns about the criminalization of camp residents for low-level or survival-related offenses. With high levels of poverty, limited access to education, and the absence of formal employment opportunities, some Rohingya youth turn to online gaming and similar platforms for recreation and occasional income.
The incident underscores the urgent need for holistic interventions in refugee camps that prioritize education, mental health, and livelihood opportunities over punitive measures.
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