Arakan News Agency
The 16th Armed Police Battalion (APBN) in Teknaf carried out a large-scale security operation on Sunday in cooperation with several law enforcement agencies, resulting in the arrest of 10 individuals and the seizure of various illegal items across seven Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.
According to an official statement from the battalion, the operation began at 2:00 p.m. under the supervision of Additional Deputy Inspector General Mohammad Kausar Sikder and was led by Additional Superintendent of Police Suman Kar. The drive involved units from the local police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), the Department of Narcotics Control, Battalion Ansar, and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).
The campaign covered the camps of Shalbagan, Leda, Unchiprang, and Nayapara, where officers seized nine mobile phones, 14 gas cylinders, 12 sacks of cement, 30 liters of diesel, 69 Yaba tablets, 600 grams of marijuana, 800 grams of unidentified white leaves, and 1,000 Bangladeshi taka in cash.
In Shalbagan Camp, police detained three individuals accused of online gambling. In Leda Camp, three more people were arrested, including a wanted suspect, and six abandoned mobile phones were recovered. Between eight and ten illegal shops were demolished in Unchiprang Camp, where law enforcers also confiscated illegally stored construction materials and fuel.
In the registered Nayapara Camp, two individuals were arrested in connection with a weapons case, while two others were detained for possession of narcotics.
Bangladeshi authorities confirmed that all detainees have been referred to the relevant agencies for legal proceedings, emphasizing that security operations will continue to curb crime and ensure stability within the Rohingya camps.
Bangladesh currently hosts around 1.3 million Rohingya refugees in the Cox’s Bazar camps — recognized by the United Nations as the largest refugee settlement in the world. The refugees have been living under harsh humanitarian conditions since fleeing Myanmar in 2017 amid the military’s “genocidal campaign” against them. Renewed waves of displacement to Bangladesh have continued since fighting erupted in Arakan State between the Myanmar military and the Buddhist Arakan Army in November 2023.
