Border News Agency
COX’S BAZAR – 19 June 2025

Bangladeshi authorities have strongly rejected recent claims by the International Crisis Group (ICG) alleging the presence and mobilization of Rohingya militant groups within the refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar.

In its new report titled “Bangladesh/Myanmar: The Dangers of a Rohingya Insurgency,” the Brussels-based ICG warned that armed Rohingya groups, specifically the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), the Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO), and other lesser-known factions are actively recruiting fighters and preparing for military confrontations from within the camps. The report alleged that these groups are using religious rhetoric to encourage participation in armed resistance, potentially appealing to frustrated and marginalized refugees.

Responding to these assertions, Bangladesh’s Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner, Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, categorically denied the presence of any militant activity in the camps.

“No such militant activity has been detected,” Rahman said. “We are constantly monitoring the camps. Law enforcement agencies patrol day and night. It is impossible for such activities to happen under our watch.”

Rahman further criticized the report as “untrue” and “misleading,” emphasizing that there is no evidence of armed training or recruitment taking place inside the camps.

Despite Bangladesh’s denials, the ICG’s report expressed growing concern over the security dynamics in the region. As the Arakan Army (AA) continues its military gains in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, the report suggests that several Rohingya armed factions are setting aside their rivalries to form tactical alliances aimed at countering the AA’s influence.

According to the report, some religious leaders in the camps have been allegedly promoting the idea of armed resistance as a religious obligation, heightening the risk of radicalization among camp residents. The ICG warned that this coordination among Rohingya armed groups could trigger further instability, not just in Rakhine, but also across the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.

“These armed factions are now more coordinated than ever,” the ICG cautioned. “They have set aside rivalries and are planning joint operations. If this escalates, it could lead to serious damage, not only in Rakhine, but also in terms of regional security and refugee management.”

The report also raises alarms over the possibility of the refugee camps being dragged into the ongoing conflict in Myanmar, potentially threatening peace in the densely populated camps and straining Bangladesh’s already challenged refugee response infrastructure.

Bangladesh, which hosts nearly one million Rohingya refugees who fled violence and persecution in Myanmar, continues to maintain that it upholds strict security protocols in all camps to prevent any unlawful activities, including armed mobilization.