By: Camp Correspondent
April 15, 2025 | Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh
Two separate incidents of violence inside Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar over the past two days have left one young man dead and at least three others injured, raising fresh concerns over safety, rising tensions, and the mental toll of protracted camp confinement.
Youth Killed in Stabbing Incident at Kutupalong Registered Camp
On the evening of April 13, a 23-year-old Rohingya youth, Mohammad Nur Hossain, also known as Prakash Saiful, was fatally stabbed at the football field in Block C of Kutupalong Registered Camp in Ukhia.
According to witnesses, the attack occurred between 7:00 PM and 7:30 PM, when Nur Hossain reportedly attempted to intervene in a dispute involving his sister. Unknown assailants stabbed him during the altercation. He was taken to Kutupalong Hospital, where doctors declared him dead upon arrival.
Two others—Md. Jobayer (17) and Md. Rafiq (16)—suffered serious stab injuries and were transferred to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital. One remains in critical condition.
“He tried to calm things down, but it cost him his life,” said a community member who knew the victim.
Sub-Inspector Sourav from Ukhia Police Station is overseeing the post-mortem process. As of this report, no arrests have been made, and the identity of the attacker remains unknown.
Fourteen personnel from the Armed Police Battalion (APBN) have been deployed at the site and the hospital to ensure continued security. Authorities confirmed that the overall law and order situation is currently stable, but community members remain on edge.
One Seriously Injured in Family Dispute at Camp-03
In a separate incident on April 14, a Rohingya man was seriously injured during a violent clash between two families in Camp-03, located in the Kutupalong expansion zone.
The altercation occurred at around 6:10 PM in Block F/69 following a long-standing dispute between Md. Salim (43), son of Syed Ali, and Mohammad Abbas (45), son of Tayyab Ali. Eyewitnesses say the argument quickly escalated, resulting in Mohammad Abbas striking Md. Salim on the head and face with a wooden stick.
Residents rushed to break up the fight and took the injured man to IMO Hospital for emergency care. Due to the severity of the injuries, he was later referred to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital.
“It happened so fast. We tried to stop it, but Salim bhai was already badly hurt,” said a neighbor from the same block.
Growing Concerns in the Camps
These back-to-back incidents reflect growing social tensions within the overcrowded and aid-dependent Rohingya camps, where stress, unresolved trauma, and limited access to justice often fuel local disputes.
Camp leaders and humanitarian agencies have expressed concern over the rise in interpersonal violence, especially among youth, and are urging for increased mental health support, community policing, and conflict mediation mechanisms to prevent further escalation.