Youth killed in Rohingya camp gunfight

A Rohingya man was killed in a gunfight between two rival groups over establishing supremacy at a refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar district on Saturday.

The deceased was identified as Nur Kamal, 25, a resident of the same camp and son of Abul Kalam. 

The incident took place around 3AM on Friday night at Block-I of Nayapara Registered Rohingya Camp no 26 in Hnila union of Teknaf upazila.

Confirming the incident, 16th Armed Police Battalion APBN Commander Mohammad Kawsar Sikder, Additional Inspector General of Police, said Nur Kamal’s group and a rival faction led by Khaleq had been engaged in a long-standing dispute over establishing dominance inside the camp. 

The conflict escalated overnight, leading to a violent confrontation marked by gunfire, he said.

During the clash, Nur Kamal sustained gunshot wounds and injuries from sharp weapons. He was rescued by local residents and taken to a hospital inside the camp, where doctors declared him dead.

Police described Nur Kamal as a known criminal who had formed his own armed group and was allegedly involved in various criminal activities within the camp and surrounding areas.

The APBN commander said a police team rushed to the scene after receiving information about the violence, but the attackers had fled before officers arrived. Law enforcement agencies are continuing operations to identify and arrest those involved.

The body was brought to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital on Saturday afternoon for an autopsy. After the autopsy, the body will be handed over to the family, and further legal proceedings will follow, police said.

Camp leader Abul Kalam said residents were terrified by the sudden and intense sound of gunfire during the night, adding that people want to live in peace and hope the administration will take effective steps to curb criminal activities.