Gunshots to halt arms trade in Rohingya camps: Momen

Shots will be fired if necessary to halt illegal arms and narcotics trade in Rohingya camps across Cox’s Bazar, said Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Friday. He made the comment while speaking to the media after attending a discussion organised jointly by the National Heart Foundation and Jalalabad Association in Sylhet. The minister was responding to a question about the ongoing terrorist activities in these camps.

Momen further said, “We have held a meeting on Thursday to discuss ways for improving law and order situation in both inside and outside the Rohingya camps. Despite necessary prevention measures, a horrific incident occurred today [Friday].”

“Seven people have been mowed down with gunfire. This is a matter of great concern.” He continued, “Miscreants are committing one murder after another to halt the repatriation process. Many of them no longer want to return to Myanmar, because they want to protect their interest here.

“These are the people who are committing murders at the camps. We will investigate the matter.”

A deadly attack on a madrasa in a Rohingya camp situated in Ukhiya upazila left at least seven people dead and several others injured in the early hours of Friday.

Confirming the death toll, Superintendent of Police Shihab Kaiser Khan, also the commander of Armed Police Battalion-8, said the incident took place around 4am at Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama Al-Islamiyah of Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMN).