Bangladesh law enforcement has held one person on Friday in connection with the killing of Rohingya leader Mohibullah in Cox’s Bazar, amid growing calls for justice from the international community.
The development comes soon after United States and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) condemned the killing.
In a statement issued on Thursday on the US Department of State website, US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken said, “We are deeply saddened and disturbed by the murder of Rohingya Muslim advocate and community leader Mohibullah in Bangladesh on September 29. Mohibullah was a brave and fierce advocate for the human rights of Rohingya Muslims around the world.”
“We urge a full and transparent investigation into his death with the goal of holding the perpetrators of this heinous crime accountable. We will honour his work by continuing to advocate for Rohingya and lift up the voices of members of the community in decisions about their future,” the statement added.
The condemnation also came from the United Nations which called for a proper probe into the killing.
"The United Nations urges the Bangladesh authorities to undertake an investigation and to hold those responsible to account," said Stephanie Tremblay, associate spokesperson for the UN secretary general, said in a statement.
The UN also urged continued strong international support for the protection and support to the Rohingya communities anywhere in the world, including in Bangladesh.
At the same time, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, urged Bangladesh to undertake an immediate investigation into the killing of Rohingya leader Mohibullah and hold those responsible to account.
“UNHCR is deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic killing of Rohingya refugee leader Mohibullah in Cox's Bazar. We condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms,” said the UN agency in a statement on Thursday.
“The UNHCR extended deepest condolences to Mohibullah's family, and to the wider Rohingya community who are mourning his loss,” the statement added.
UNHCR also said they are in contact with law enforcement agencies and governmental authorities in charge of maintaining safety and security for the Rohingyas living in the camps.
Rohingya man held over murder
SP Naimul Haque, commander of the 14th Armed Police Battalion, said APBN members arrested the suspect from Camp-6 at Kutupalong in Ukhiya upazila around 11:00am.
The arrestee was identified as Md Selim alias Lomba Selim, 27, a Rohingya citizen living in Ukhiya Rohingya camp, reports UNB.
“Later, he was handed over to Ukhikya police station,” said the SP.
Earlier on Wednesday night, unidentified gunmen entered Rohingya refugee camp at Ukhiya and opened fire on Mohibullah, chairman of the Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Human Rights.
Mohibullah was taken to the health centre of Médecins Sans Frontières at the refugee camp where doctors pronounced him dead.
Before fleeing to Bangladesh, Mohibullah was a school teacher in Myanmar’s Rakhine State.
Mohibullah and several hundred volunteers founded the ARSPH in late 2017.
He became prominent as a representative of the Rohingyas during visits by high-level delegations to the camps, addressed the United Nations Human Rights Council about the plight of the Rohingyas in Geneva in 2019 and also met former US president Donald Trump.
