Photo : Collected
In Cox’s Bazar, another fire took place in Kutupalong Camp No. 5 on Thursday around 12:30pm. However, in the same camp, over a thousand houses were burned to ashes in a devastating fire on Saturday (6 January) night. Upon receiving the information, eight units of the Fire Service managed to bring the fire under control after approximately two hours of frantic efforts.
Another fire incident unfolded on Sunday (December 31) around 2:30am in Balukhali No. 11 Rohingya Camp E-Block, which caused destruction of at least 30 Rohingya settlements with around fifty houses damaged. So, experiencing more than three fires in the same camp in less than two weeks is highly unusual.
The camp had witnessed a similar occurrence on March 5 of the previous year when miscreants set fire to another block – thereby resulting in the burning of 2,200 houses and affecting over 15,000 Rohingya. Reports suggest a dispute between various groups vying for dominance in the area and control of the camp.
Over 20 groups of Rohingyas, including Arakan Salvation Army-ARSA, Arakan Solidarity Organisation-RSO, and Al-Yaqin, are active in the region and have clashed previously.
Some Rohingya residents claim that some armed persons ordered them to vacate their houses before setting them ablaze, accompanied by blank shots.
A parliamentary committee report from February 15 of the previous year disclosed that a total of 222 fire incidents occurred in Rohingya camps between January 2021 and December 2022. Among these, 63 were deemed malicious or intentional, 99 were accidental, and 63 were unexplained. The report also showed the presence of 10 active terrorist groups in the camps.
Fire Service officials informed that fire incidents in Rohingya camps spread rapidly due to the easily flammable materials used in construction, coupled with a lack of awareness about fire safety. Transportation challenges for Fire Service personnel and inadequate water supply further hinder firefighting efforts. However, the prevalence of gas cylinders in every house exacerbates the speed at which fires spread.
Despite numerous challenges, the recurring fires are seen as part of terrorist activities with Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar becoming havens for various armed groups engaging in criminal activities, trade, and power struggles. Incidents such as shootings, murders, and repeated arson are frequent, fueled by heinous incidents. The suggested solution to this crisis is the repatriation of Rohingyas, emphasising the need for Bangladesh to fulfill its agreement with Myanmar signed in November 2017. However, no Rohingya has been successfully repatriated within last eight years. So, it is now urgent to address this ongoing humanitarian crisis through repatriation.
Messenger/Sajib
