Bangladesh to Set Up Two Army Camps Near Rohingya Camps to Curb Kidnappings and Crime

Bangladesh will establish two new army camps near the Rohingya refugee camps in the hilly areas of Cox’s Bazar to prevent frequent kidnappings and strengthen security, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed announced on Thursday.

Speaking to journalists at the Secretariat in Dhaka, the Home Minister said the decision was taken following discussions on law-and-order issues in Cox’s Bazar. “There are two hilly areas where kidnappings occur regularly. Camps will be set up there under the leadership of the Ramu 10th Infantry Division,” he said. “Everyone agreed that once these camps are established, such crimes will be significantly reduced.”

According to local information, the two locations identified for the new camps are Rangikhali and Noakhalipara, also known locally as Nurali Para, both situated close to the Rohingya camps.

The Home Minister also highlighted growing security challenges inside the camps themselves. He noted that drug dealing, online gambling, human trafficking, and the movement of various crime networks continue to take place within the Rohingya camps.

Rohingya Monitor’s observations show that criminal networks have expanded in recent years. Unemployment and prolonged displacement have made many refugees vulnerable to exploitation. Yaba drug trafficking into Bangladesh, allegedly linked to cross-border networks involving elements connected to the militant Arakan Army, remains a serious concern. Illegal gambling has also increased inside the camps, while human trafficking and the presence of crime networks continue to pose risks to ordinary residents.

To address these crimes, the government has given the Armed Police Battalion (APBN) investigative authority alongside the regular police. The Home Minister explained that around 400 officers at the Sub-Inspector level are currently posted with the APBN, enabling them to take a more active role in controlling punishable offences under the Penal Code.

On the long-term solution, Salahuddin Ahmed reaffirmed Bangladesh’s position on repatriation. “We believe that the return of the Rohingya is certainly possible with the cooperation of the international community and under the leadership of the United Nations,” he said.

The decision to deploy additional army presence near the camps comes as authorities seek to improve security both for the host communities in the surrounding hills and for the more than one million Rohingya refugees living in the densely populated settlements of Cox’s Bazar.