Politics

2 Rohingya leaders shot dead in Bangladesh camp

Dhaka, Aug 10 (EFE).- Two Rohingya leaders were shot dead in Bangladesh camps, police said on Wednesday, marking the latest violent incident involving Myanmar refugees living in the South Asian nation’s overcrowded settlements.

The shooting occurred shortly before midnight in Cox’s Bazar, police spokesperson Kamran Hossain told EFE.

Kamran said the armed men opened fire on Abul Taleb and Syed Hossain.

“One of them was talking on a phone while the other was relaxing on a bed when miscreants attacked them. Hearing the gunshot sounds, our volunteers rushed to the spot and took (the victims) to the Jamtali MSF hospital,” he said.

The police officer said Hossain received a bullet on his neck while Taleb was shot thrice in his neck and rib.

“Our forces reached the spot within seven minutes. But we could not arrest anyone. We raised alarm in our outposts and continued our drive to arrest the killers,” he said.

Local media, citing witnesses, said the Rohingya extremist group Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) could be involved in the killings.

But the police said they were yet to identify any suspects.

“We spoke to the victims’ family members. They did not name any suspect,” the spokesperson said.

He added that conflicts are becoming common among the Rohingya groups over various issues, including aspirations for leadership and drug dealings.

In June, Rohingya leader Azim Uddin was hacked to death by a group of youth.

Earlier in 2021, Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Human Rights (ARSPH) chairman Mohibullah was shot dead in a refugee camp.

According to the United Nations refugee agency, Bangladesh houses around 925,000 Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, including around 774,000 who have fled since 2017, following an operation flagged by the UN for alleged ethnic cleansing and attempted genocide. EFE

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