A 30-year-old Rohingya refugee, Mohammed Rofique, was shot and killed on Saturday night in Cox’s Bazar’s refugee Camp 8E, Block B-21, while on his way to perform Taraweeh prayers. The incident occurred at approximately 8:40 pm., amid ongoing clashes between rival armed groups operating within the refugee camps.
Rofique, originally from Nangthar Daung village in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, was a person with disabilities and had a speech impediment. Neighbors and community members have confirmed that he had no criminal affiliations and was not involved in any group-related conflicts.
According to eyewitnesses, Rofique was walking towards the mosque when gunfire erupted in the area due to a confrontation between two armed factions. Witnesses reported that he was shot without provocation near his shelter. He succumbed to his injuries on the spot.
Local refugees expressed their grief and concern over the deteriorating security situation in the camps, where violent clashes between rival groups have become increasingly frequent. Residents fear for their safety, especially during the holy month of Ramadan, as attacks and killings continue to rise.
One resident, who requested anonymity for security reasons, stated, “Rofique was an innocent man. He could barely communicate because of his speech disability. He had no enemies, yet he lost his life due to this ongoing violence.”
Security forces and law enforcement authorities have been struggling to maintain control over the sprawling refugee camps, where armed groups continue to operate despite increased patrols and crackdowns. No arrests have been made in connection with the shooting so far.
Human rights activists have repeatedly called for urgent measures to improve security in the camps and to protect vulnerable refugees from violence. The murder of Rofique adds to the growing number of targeted killings in the camps, raising concerns about the worsening humanitarian and security crisis.
Rofique’s family and community members are now mourning his loss, urging authorities to bring justice and ensure that innocent lives are not caught in the crossfire of armed conflicts.
The Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, home to nearly a million displaced Rohingya, have witnessed a surge in violence over the past few years. Rival armed groups, criminal gangs, and extremist factions have engaged in clashes, kidnappings, and assassinations, leaving the civilian population in a constant state of fear.
Despite repeated appeals from humanitarian organizations, the Bangladeshi government has struggled to implement an effective security strategy to curb the violence. Many refugees have expressed frustration over the lack of protection, as criminal groups continue to operate with impunity.
With Ramadan now underway, refugees fear that such incidents may increase, further destabilizing the already fragile living conditions in the camps. Calls for immediate international intervention and stronger security measures are growing as the situation worsens.
As the investigation into Rofique’s killing continues, his tragic death serves as yet another reminder of the dangers faced by innocent Rohingya refugees living under dire conditions in the world’s largest refugee settlement.
