Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh: In a tragic incident on Thursday evening, violence erupted between two armed insurgent groups, Arsa and Arso, within the Rohingya refugee camps in the Ukhiya region of Cox’s Bazar. This confrontation resulted in the loss of two lives.
The incident took place around 3 PM near the western hills of Kutupalong Madhur Chhara Rohingya camp. Several individuals were reported injured during the clash.
Deadly Confrontation Erupts Between Arsa and Arso in Cox’s Bazar
The deceased individuals have been identified as Nur Mohammad (17), the son of Gofur Ahmed, who belonged to Camp-2, and Shamsul Alam (23), the son of Ahmed Hossen from Camp-7.
Sheikh Mohammad Ali, the Officer-in-Charge of Ukhiya Police Station, confirmed that Nur Mohammad lost his life at the scene of the conflict. Shamsul Alam, in critical condition, was rushed to Cox’s Bazar District Hospital, where he was pronounced dead by medical professionals.
Officer-in-Charge Ali stated that the exact cause of the killings remains uncertain, and investigations are underway. The bodies of the deceased have been sent to Cox’s Bazar District Hospital for post-mortem examinations.
Hasina Begum, the younger sister of Shamsul Alam, shared her account of the incident, saying, “Early in the morning, people from Arsa took my brother from the camp to the hills. In the afternoon, we learned that my brother was shot and killed.”
According to community leaders in the Rohingya camps, this confrontation involved Arsa leader Maulvi Rahim Ullah and Arso leader Nabi Hossen, and additional casualties are being reported. It is believed that the bodies of those killed are still in the hills near Arsa’s stronghold.
The situation remains tense as authorities work to defuse the situation and ensure the safety of Rohingya refugees in the area. The root cause of the clash is still under investigation, and security measures have been heightened within the camps to prevent further violence.