Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar camps are once again caught in the crossfire as deadly violence between Myanmar-based armed groups shatters their already fragile sense of security. On Wednesday afternoon, a 19-year-old Rohingya youth, Abdur Rahman, was killed, and five others were injured in a clash between rival groups in the overcrowded refugee settlements of Ukhiya Upazila.
The incident, which occurred near Hakimpara and Jamtoli camps, was the result of a bitter power struggle between the Arakan Salvation Army (ARSA) and the Arakan Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO). The groups have been fighting for control over the camp, seeking to dominate the drug trade and extortion activities that have infiltrated these communities, which were supposed to be safe havens for displaced Rohingyas.
“We live in constant fear,” said a Rohingya community leader who wished to remain anonymous. “The camps are no longer places of refuge but battlegrounds where armed groups fight for dominance. We are the ones suffering, trapped in our homes, afraid to step outside after dark.”
For the Rohingyas, the violence is a daily reality. Sensing danger in the air, many families, especially women and children, stay indoors as soon as the sun sets. Yet, even their homes offer little safety, as armed men roam the camps at night, kidnapping community members for ransom or punishing those they accuse of being involved in the drug trade.
The family of Abdur Rahman, a young resident of Hakimpara camp, is left mourning their son. “He was just 19. He didn’t deserve to die like this,” said one of his relatives. Rahman was shot dead as armed men from both ARSA and RSO exchanged heavy fire. Locals reported that around 25 rounds of gunfire erupted between the two groups, leaving several others wounded, including a 55-year-old woman named Neshara Begum.
“These clashes aren’t new,” said another Rohingya man, frustrated by the endless cycle of violence. “ARSA and RSO have been fighting for months now. It’s about control. They want to control us, and we are the ones who end up dying.”
The police, along with the Armed Police Battalion (APBn), have been struggling to contain the situation. However, many refugees feel that these efforts are not enough. According to the police, there have been 60 reported clashes in the camps this year alone, resulting in the deaths of 69 Rohingyas. Most of the casualties have been young men, caught up in the violent struggle for dominance between ARSA, RSO, and other criminal factions.
For the over one million Rohingya refugees living in these camps, the violence adds another layer of trauma to their lives. Fleeing persecution in Myanmar, many hoped for safety and dignity in Bangladesh. But five years after their mass exodus, they find themselves at the mercy of armed factions that have turned the camps into conflict zones.
“We are trapped between violence and uncertainty,” said one camp resident, his voice heavy with despair. “We escaped from Myanmar hoping for peace, but here we face new dangers every day. We need protection, we need peace, but it feels like the world has forgotten us.”
Despite various international efforts, no Rohingya refugee has been able to return home to Myanmar in the seven years since the brutal military crackdown forced them to flee. The future remains uncertain for the Rohingya community, with no safe place to call home and little hope of a resolution.
As the violence continues to rise, the Rohingyas’ cry for help grows louder. Yet, for now, it seems they are left to fend for themselves, caught in a dangerous cycle of violence, waiting for peace that feels farther away than ever.
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