Rohingya leader Mohammad Mohibullah, who was shot dead by unidentified gunmen at his office in Cox's Bazar, was buried near Lambasia Rohingya Camp at Kutupalong in Cox's Bazar after namaj-e-janaza (funeral prayers) on Thursday evening.
Earlier in the afternoon, his body was handed over to his relatives following a postmortem at Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital.
Cox's Bazar Sadar Model Police Station officer-in-charge (OC) Sheikh Monirul Gias said the body of the slain Master Mohibullah was handed over to his brother Ahmad Ullah. Later, a namaj-e-janaza was held which was attended by thousands of refugees. Then Mohibullah's body was buried in a graveyard inside the camp.
On the other hand, the cause of the murder and the identities of those involved in it could not be confirmed yet. However, Ahmed Ullah, the victim's brother, claimed that Mohibullah was killed by rival miscreants out of anger over his work for Rohingya repatriation. Though the Armed Police Battalion (APBn) and local police have been trying their best to find out the killers, the authorities concerned have declined to make any comment.
Narrating the gruesome incident, Habibullah, younger brother of Muhibullah, said some 15 to 20 gunmen swooped on his brother while he was taking rest inside the office of the Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Human Rights (ARSPH) after completing his Esha prayers at Lambasia camp in Kutupalong of Ukhia. One Abdur Rahim shot his brother in the chest though others working at the office were spared after beating.
He said there were 15 to 20 people including Master Abdur Rahim, Murshid and Lalu in the group, and they were the members of Al-Yaqeen group.
Mohibullah was known as a voice for starting the repatriation of the refugees to Myanmar. AFP via Getty Images file
Master Mohibullah was a resident of Block D-7 of No. 1-East Lambasia Rohingya Camp under Ukhia Upazila. He fled to Bangladesh on August 25, 2017 after ethnic violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state. Mohibullah formed the Arakan Rohingya Society Peace for Human Rights, an organization vocal for the rights and repatriation of Rohingya to their homeland. He was the chairman of that organization. He was the principal organizer of a huge rally of Rohingya refugees in Ukhia on August 25, 2019, commemorating the anniversary of ethnic violence against the Rohingyas. He also visited the United States that year and met former President Donald Trump. Mohibullah became a popular leader among the Rohingyas after that news spread in various media. He has been working with the international community, including the United Nations, as a spokesman for Rohingya repatriation.
Mohibullah, a former teacher, had served as a spokesman representing the Muslim ethnic group in international meetings. AFP via Getty Images file
Mohibullah along with his brother offered prayers at a local mosque at Lambasia Rohingya Camp at 8:30 pm on Wednesday. He was then sitting in the ARSPHR office talking to some Rohingya leaders. Then a group of 15/20 people wearing towels fired five shots at Mohibullah. Rceiving bullet injuries on different parts of the body including the chest, he fell down. As the locals rushed to the spot, the miscreants fled away.
Receiving the news, an APBN team reached the spot, rescued Mohibullah and rushed him to Kutupalong MSF Hospital, where the on-duty doctor pronounced him dead. Later at night, his body was taken to Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy.
Meanwhile, despite the gruesome incident of murder, the law and order has remained calm in Rohingya camps including Lambasia and surrounding areas. Additional law enforcing personnel including APBn have been deployed in the camps.
It was learnt that the different law enforcing agencies have been continuing their operations to arrest the culprits involved in the killing of Mohibullah.
