Rohingyas, Locals pick up conflict after JL leader’s murder

Cox’s Bazar, Aug 23 (UNB) – Hundreds of agitated locals stormed a Rohingya camp and vandalised makeshift houses and NGO offices following the murder of a local Jubo League leader in Teknaf.

They burned tyres and plastic boxes to block a five-kilometre road from Teknaf municipality to Leda Point for three hours. The residence of Rohingya leader Noor Mohammad was also torched.

Pradip Kumar Das, officer-in-charge of Teknaf Police Station, said they persuaded the agitated locals to end their blockade around 3pm assuring them of arresting the killers and bringing them to justice.

Jubo League leader Omar Faruk, 30, was shot dead at Jadimura in Teknaf upazila on Thursday night.

His elder brother Osman Goni alleged that a group of Rohingyas picked Faruk up from near his house and shot him dead at a nearby hill.

Two other locals were also killed, allegedly by Rohingyas, since the 2017 influx and there have been reports of attacks on police and harassment of journalists by the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals.

Bangladesh is currently hosting more than 1.1 million Rohingyas who fled here from Myanmar over the years. Many Rohingyas have been accused of getting involved in criminal activities.

Two attempts to repatriate them – the latest one was on Thursday – were abandoned as no one of the Rohingyas could be sent back.

Dhaka has been saying that the prolonged stay of the large number of Rohingyas will pose a serious security threat, not only for Bangladesh but also for the neighbouring countries.

OC Das assured locals of stronger police presence in the area but the promise alone could not pacify the residents.

“We, the Bangalees, aren’t safe here anymore,” said Ayasur Rahman, General Secretary of Cox’s Bazar Bachao Andolan.