Rohingyas Attacked in the wake of Local Leadership Rival’s Murder

Teknaf, Bangladesh: Rohingya refugees in Camp No. 27, Block B, Jadimura, Teknaf are violently attacked by a local mob on Friday morning, following the murder of Omar Faruk, 30, president of the union's Jubo League ward 9 and son of Mohammad Monaf from the same area at around 10 pm on Thursday.

According to the Daily Star, the victim’s brother Amir told the reporters that Faruk might have been killed by his rivals as he wanted to be a member candidate of ward 9 in Hnila union in the upcoming election. His rivals might hire the two criminals to kill his brother Faruk, who are allegedly of refugees.

Before any investigation by police, a local mob including children suddenly entered into the camp and started destroying refugee makeshifts, throwing out their goods and materials, torching the shelters, beating up whom they meet, lynching them on the roads and chasing out of  the camps.

The incident coincided the second failure to begin the repatriation of Rohingya refugees triggering anti-Rohingya sentiment among the host community. Even Bangladeshi foreign minister has warned recently in an interview with media saying Rohingya will face upheaval if they aren’t willing to be repatriated.

In the recent repatriation attempt, no refugee was ready to return, because, according to them, a premature repatriation without any fundamental rights guaranteed would not put an end in the circle of exodus.

Since the late 18th century, Arakan has been a region of intermittent violence against Arakanese Rohingya causing refugee flows occasionally. The major outflows were in 1784, 1942, 1978, 1991-92, 2012 and 2016-17, whereas estimated 10,000 Rohingya flee yearly, according to right groups.

In another narrative, Faruk was killed by some armed miscreants accusing him of discriminating against them in a conflict between the group and some refugees where Faruk mediated to settle. Though the real the motive of this murder is yet to be identified legally, some local media’s direct and immediate pointing fingers to the refugees contributed in causing such chaotic situation.

Hashim, one of his refugee friend told Rohingya Vision that Faruk was one of the members of host community who warmheartedly welcomed the refugees when their flow started in 2017 and had been in a good friendship with refugee youngsters.

“On belaf of the refugees, we extend our most sincere condolences to the family of Faruk.” He added.

If any Rohingya perpetrators are involved with the murder of this local political party activist Rohingya community should cooperate to law enforcement agencies to uproot those miscreants to avoid the responsibility as whole.

Rohingya owe Bangladesh.