United News of Bangladesh

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has said it continues to work closely with sector partners to scale up assistance and address urgent and evolving needs, stressing that fire risks remain high in the Rohingya camps. While immediate assistance continues, the latest incident underscores the persistent fire risks facing refugee communities in Cox’s Bazar, which hosts more than one million Rohingya refugees, it said. The fire risks remain high, particularly during the dry season, due to the dense layout of the camps and the use of highly flammable materials in temporary shelters, IOM said. It launched an emergency response following a large fire in a Rohingya refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar early Tuesday morning. Read more: Canada reaffirms commitment to dignity and justice for Rohingya Relief efforts are being carried out in close coordination with the Government of Bangladesh and humanitarian partners to ensure timely and appropriate assistance to affected families. “When fires strike in overcrowded camp settings, the impact extends far beyond damaged infrastructure,” said Lance Bonneau, IOM Chief of Mission in Bangladesh. “Families lose shelter, essential belongings, and access to basic services, increasing immediate protection risks. Our response is guided by a clear responsibility to protect lives, uphold dignity and ensure that those affected receive assistance quickly and safely, so families can begin to regain a sense of normalcy.” The fire affected more than 2,000 refugees, causing extensive damage to shelters and camp-based facilities. No fatalities or major injuries have been reported.  More than 400 shelters were damaged and camp infrastructure was severely impacted, including over 160 water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities such as water points and latrines, as well as 11 learning centres and two mosques. Beyond the destruction of shelters, the fire also destabilized the hillside terrain on which much of the camp is constructed, damaging drainage networks and public infrastructure, and increasing risks related to access and erosion. After the fire was contained, IOM deployed health teams and ambulances to support those with minor injuries and worked with partners to rapidly assess damage and immediate needs. Building on these assessments, IOM and its partners rapidly deployed specialized teams in shelter, WASH, and protection to support affected families. Within 24 hours of the incident, IOM’s camp management team, together with refugee volunteers, cleared debris from the fire-affected areas to restore safe access for emergency assistance and essential services. Over 49.5 lakh Bangladeshis internally displaced by natural disasters: IOM In coordination with the World Food Programme (WFP), emergency food assistance was provided, while affected households received emergency shelter assistance, blankets, floor mats, mosquito nets, and portable solar lights. Following previous devastating fires, including the March 2021 incident that displaced 45,000 people, IOM and humanitarian partners have continued to strengthen refugee-led emergency preparedness and response mechanisms to enable faster, safer, and more effective action when hazards occur.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres arrived at the Rohingya refugee camp in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, as part of his visit to Bangladesh. He is set to participate in various programmes throughout the day, engaging with refugees and humanitarian organisations. Count on UN to help build sustainable, equitable future for all: Guterres tells Dr Yunus Later in the day, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus is expected to visit the camp before iftar to join the UN chief. Their discussions are likely to focus on the ongoing challenges faced by Rohingya refugees and the support needed for their well-being.

An elderly man and a boy were burnt to death and 16 others burnt in a devastating fire in Kutupalong Rohingya camp in Ukhiya upazila of Cox’s Bazar on Tuesday. Moreover, 549 Rohingya houses (shanty) were completely burnt to ashes, 263 partially damaged and 197 infrastructures of several service providing organizations (NGO) damaged while six more houses were demolished to halt the speed of fire in the camp. The deceased were Abul Khayer, 60, son of Md Solaiman, and Russell, 7, son of Mostafizur Rahman of the Rohingya camp. The injured were undergoing treatment at several hospitals. Mizanur Rahman, commissioner at Refugee, Relief and Repatriation in Cox’s Bazar, said some 808 Rohingya families were damaged in the devastating fire. Read: Gazipur factory fire: Death toll rises to 3 He suspected that the fire might have originated from an electric short-circuit or leakage of a gas cylinder in one of the Rohingya houses. Ukhiya police station’s Officer-in-Charge Md Arif Hossain said the fire erupted around 12pm and engulfed the camp. Initially three firefighting units from Ukhiya fire station responded to the incident, later three more units engaged in the fire and brought the flame under control around 2:30pm, he said. Along with the firefighters, Army personnel and local volunteers worked to tame the fire, the OC added.

A six-member delegation, including the UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Regional Director for Asia Pacific, Kanni Vignarazar, visited the Rohingya camp at Ukhiya in Cox's Bazar on Monday (September 11, 2023). During this visit, they observed various activities of the donor organisation. Also read: UN Assistant Secretary-General's visit to Bangladesh set for September 9 The delegation reached Block-L/17 of Rohingya Camp-18 in Ukhiya around 10:00 am on Monday. Later, they visited the Rohingya Cultural Memory Centre at IMO. During the visit, an IMO official presented the delegation with details by displaying various items bearing testimony to the history and heritage of the Rohingyas preserved inside the Rohingya Cultural Memory Centre. A group of Rohingya artists played musical instruments for the delegation and sang a Rohingya anthem (Tarana). They then visited the Model Village under the UNCR-NGO Forum and BRAC Dhara-run pilot project located in Camp 17 H/71 block and visited the ISO SET bio-diversity nurseries. During this time, BRAC officials briefed them on how waste material is paid for in the project. Also read: UNDP facilitates dialogues among parliamentarians on gender-based hate speech and Bangladesh Delta Plan Later, NGO officials gave a detailed briefing to the delegation on how the Rohingyas collect rations through smart cards. Later, they paid a courtesy call on the CIC at the CIC office of Camp-4 Extension. US Assistant Secretary-General Kanni Vignarazar spoke to some of the Rohingyas who came to WFP’s e-voucher shop and inquired about them. Later, the six-member delegation returned to Cox's Bazar around 3:00 pm. Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Mizanur Rahman and Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Shaheen Imran were present during the visit. Also read: Sweden, UNDP continue to work on climate adaptation in Bangladesh "During this time, the delegation observed various activities of the donor organisation. Later, they spoke to some Rohingyas who had come to the WFP’s e-voucher shop for some time," said Mizanur.

An 11-year-old girl was killed after being hit by a stray bullet during a gunfight involving miscreants at a Rohingya camp in Ukhia upazila of Cox’s Bazar district early Tuesday. The deceased was identified as Tasfia, daughter of Yeasin of No 18 Rohingya camp in Balukhali. Sheikh Mohammad Ali, officer-in-charge of Ukhia Police Station, said two groups of miscreants entered the Rohingya camp around 1:20 am and exchanged bullets. At one stage, Tasfia received a bullet and died on the spot while his father and others were trying to leave the camp to a safer place. On information, police recovered the body and sent it to Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy.

A Rohingya leader of the Balukhali refugee camp in Ukhiya upazila of Cox’s Bazar has been hacked to death allegedly over establishing dominance in the camp, the Armed Police Battalion (APBn) said on Friday. The deceased was identified as Md Azimuddin,48, son of Kamal Uddin, and head of block L/16 of Camp-18, said Kamran Hossain, additional superintendent of APBn-8. Aound 8pm on Thursday, some Rohingyas from Camp-20 stealthily attacked the leaders responsible for guarding M/9 sub block of block B in Camp-18, he said. "They attacked to create dominance over the camp." READ: 7 Rohingyas illegally entered from India held in Cox’s Bazar During the attack, two more Rohingyas named Syed Karim, 40, and Rahimulla, 36, were hurt, said additional SP Kamran. "APBn-8 is conducting raids to detain the attackers," he added.

IOM in coordination with the humanitarian actors in Cox’s Bazar will soon conduct technical assessments to better assess the damages caused by a recent fire, and the immediate and longer-term needs of the affected people. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has taken a mobile medical team on the ground to provide assistance as needed. Additionally, IOM through its communications with communities (CwC) team is being deployed within the camp to ensure people have access to right information.  Read: 1200 homes gutted in Ukhia Rohingya camp fire IOM has taken immediate steps to mobilize non-food item (NFI) kits for all affected households- which are being supplemented with blankets to help those affected to keep warm amidst the cold dry weather in Cox’s Bazar. “We are coordinating with other humanitarian actors to ensure that those affected are provided with food, health, protection, water, sanitation, and hygiene needs. Shelter repair/rebuilding and access to cooking facilities – in the form of LPG are top priorities as the affected families seek to recover from the damages caused by the fire,” said Nusrath Ghazzali, officer-in-charge for IOM Bangladesh. A significant fire swept through camp 16 under IOM’s area of responsibility in Cox’s Bazar on Sunday afternoon, impacting thousands of Rohingya refugees and host community members, and causing considerable damage to sections of the world’s largest refugee camp.  The fire was first reported just before 5pm and IOM immediately mobilized response teams to protect refugees and bring the situation back under control in coordination with the local authorities and fire brigade. The cause and origin of the fire is unknown at this stage. At this stage no fatalities have been reported, though two people are reportedly injured by the fire.  Read: Cox's Bazar Rohingya camp fire: Teams working 24/7 to regain normalcy This latest fire comes a week after another fire broke out in the refugee camp on 2 January causing significant damage to IOM’s Severe Acute Respiratory Infection and Isolation and Treatment Center (SARI ITC) in camp 20 Extension.  The conditions in the camps make large fires a real risk. In March 2021, a massive fire that broke out in the camp resulted in loss of life, displaced 45,000 Rohingya refugees and caused catastrophic damage to the world’s largest refugee camp.

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on Monday held three Rohingyas from a clandestine gun making factory in Cox’s Bazar’s Kutupalong Rohingya camp. During the raid on the X-4 camp of the Kutupalong, RAB recovered five rifles, five revolvers and a large quantity of weapon-making equipment. RAB-15 captain Lt. Colonel Khairul Islam said that a group has been making weapons in this factory for a long time. Weapons were being supplied to Rohingya terrorists from here. The factory was taken under control after an exchange of fire for over four hours this morning.

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) in a drive on Monday unearthed an ‘arms making factory’ and arrested three Rohingyas from near a Rohingya camp in Ukhia upazila of Cox’s Bazar.  Ten firearms and a huge quantity of arms making equipment were seized during the drive conducted on a hill adjacent to Extension-4 Rohingya camp in the early morning, said Rab-15 commander Lt Col Khairul Islam. Read:Alleged ARSA leader found dead at Rohingya camp The arrestees are Md Baitullah, 19, his brother Habib Ullah of Kutupalong camp C-1 and Mohammd Hasun,24 of G block of the camp.

An alleged Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) leader has been found dead at the Whykong Rohingya refugee camp in Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazar district. The deceased was identified as Mohammad Hashim, 32, son of late Nurul Amin of Camp No 22 of Unchiprang in Whykong union. Read:Drug case: 5 Rohingyas sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in Cox's Bazar Whykong police outpost's sub-Inspector Mahabubur Rahaman said Hashim was probably lynched by a mob. "However, the exact cause of death will be clear after post-mortem," he said. According to police sources, Hashim used to assault Rohingya Muslims, identifying himself as an ARSA leader. Read: Rohingya camp murders: 4 more arrested from Ukhia Hashim was one of the masterminds behind the recent assassination of top Rohingya leader Mohib Ullah, the sources said, not ruling out his involvement in the madrasa attack. Md Hafizur Rahman, officer-in-charge of the Teknaf police station, said the body was sent to the Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital morgue for an autopsy.