Rohingya Community Leader Fatally Stabbed in Broad Daylight, Highlighting Ongoing Violence in World's Largest Refugee Camp

In a shocking and brazen attack, Rohingya community leader Mohammad Ebadullah was fatally stabbed in daylight in Cox’s Bazar earlier this month. Ebadullah, who had been providing important community service in the Kutupalong block, was killed while a delegation from the International Criminal Court (ICC) was conducting interviews with refugees in another block of the camp.

This tragic incident is just one in a long list of killings that have taken place in the world's largest refugee camp in southeastern Bangladesh. In 2022 alone, armed groups killed more than 40 Rohingya refugees, and in the first half of 2023, at least 48 refugees lost their lives.

According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), three incidents on July 6 and 7 resulted in the deaths of seven refugees, including a camp community leader and alleged members of militant groups. HRW has documented a total of 26 cases of violence against Rohingya, including murder, kidnapping, torture, rape and sexual assault, and forced marriage.

Their report, based on interviews with 45 Rohingya refugees between January and April 2023, highlights the alarming situation in the camps. Refugees in the camps describe an environment of increasing brutality and fear, with concerns about being targeted by criminal gangs and affiliates of Islamist armed groups.

Over one million Rohingya refugees, a stateless Muslim minority, have fled violence in Myanmar since the 1990s. The latest influx of refugees occurred in 2017 when violence erupted in Myanmar's Rakhine State, forcing over 742,000 Rohingya to seek refuge in Bangladesh.

While Bangladesh initially earned praise for opening its borders to the refugees, it now seems dissatisfied with the international community's lack of pressure on the Myanmar military junta to ensure safe conditions for their voluntary return.

The lack of access to education and livelihood opportunities has contributed to the worsening situation in the camps, which have become breeding grounds for crimes. Meenakshi Ganguly, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, warns that without opportunities, there is a risk of recruitment by criminal groups and rising criminality due to livelihood issues. This bleak situation is further exacerbated by the presence of armed groups in the camps.

The killing of 48-year-old Mohammad Mohibullah, a prominent advocate for the persecuted Rohingya Muslim minority, shed light on the existence of armed groups in the camps.

Mohibullah represented the Rohingya community at the UN Human Rights Council in 2019 and served as chairman of the Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Human Rights, which aimed to document atrocities against the Rohingya and advocate for their future.

Many Rohingya refugees find themselves caught in the crossfire between armed groups demanding their loyalty and security forces pressuring them to identify criminals. Human Rights Watch has also documented cases of armed groups kidnapping Rohingya refugees for ransom, forced recruitment, and human trafficking.

These groups exploit the vulnerable camp residents, instilling fear and intimidation through extortion. Tragically, HRW has recorded 10 cases of abduction, with victims describing torture and other forms of abuse inflicted upon them. According to HRW, the Bangladesh authorities have failed to provide adequate security measures to protect refugees from the escalating violence, calling for accessible systems to report crimes and prompt investigations.

The situation is further compounded by food shortages, as the World Food Programme has reduced monthly food vouchers for Rohingya refugees, citing a shortage of lifesaving assistance. With a mere $8 per person per month for food, refugees face dire choices in order to sustain their livelihoods.

Meenakshi Ganguly emphasizes the need for greater commitment from the international community to protect the rights of the Rohingya. She points out that attention towards the Rohingya issue has dwindled as resources have been redirected to other global security challenges, such as the conflict in Ukraine.

The ICC Prosecutor, Karim A. A. Khan, has also expressed the importance of not forgetting the Rohingya amidst global crises and the need to protect their hope for justice. The plight of the Rohingya refugees in the camps in southeastern Bangladesh remains a pressing humanitarian crisis that demands urgent action and support from the international community.

The recurring violence, killings, and human rights abuses against the Rohingya must be addressed to ensure a safe and secure future for these vulnerable individuals and their communities.