ARSA creating daily problems in Bhasan Char
Bhasan Char Faces Escalating Violence as ARRC Confronts Imams
On Tuesday, 2 April, in a significant address to gathered Rohingya imams, Additional Commissioner of the Office of the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC), Mahabub Rahman, delivered a stern message concerning the escalating disorder in Bhasan Char. He highlighted the alarming trend of daily incidents involving various types of fights, thefts, and robberies.
"These are openly happening on a daily basis, which you do not accurately report. Groupings like in Cox's Bazar cannot be done here; we will take the strictest measures against it,"
he stated. He laid the responsibility squarely on the shoulders of the imams, indicating that many amongst them are associated with the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA).
The situation in Bhasan Char has notably deteriorated this year, following three major relocations of refugees on 31 December 2023, 16 January 2024, and 14 February 2024, which brought thousands of new arrivals to the island. Rohingya observers note that among these new cohorts are many ARSA affiliates, exacerbating the already tense atmosphere.
The influence of ARSA on Bhasan Char has been a concern I've closely followed and reported on for some time. In March 2023, my investigation brought to light that individuals implicated in the murder of the renowned Rohingya leader Mohibullah were seen freely roaming Bhasan Char. By that time, Bangladesh had already relocated about 30,000 Rohingyas to the island since December 2020. My reporting in the Dhaka Tribune highlighted that this number included former high-ranking ARSA members known for their involvement in serious crimes.
Faced with photographic evidence I published in Dhaka Tribune, the Bangladesh authorities attempted to mitigate concerns. They reportedly assured the UNHCR that the ARSA members on Bhasan Char were "no longer active" in their previous capacities. This was part of the authorities' broader effort to present the relocation process as a step towards ensuring the safety and welfare of the Rohingya community, despite the complex challenges and criticisms encountered.
Residents of Bhasan Char have expressed their unease upon finding themselves living alongside former ARSA leaders known for their criminal past. The presence of these individuals has introduced a palpable sense of fear within the community, with reports of extortion, kidnapping, and people being held in unused clusters in order to demand ransoms from their families.
Just a few hours after Rahman's address today, a young man was gravely stabbed, echoing the very concerns expressed by ARRC Mahbub Rahman about the tense atmosphere and the residents' growing apprehension about venturing out after dark.
This alarming situation calls into question the effectiveness of the authorities' response to the presence of ARSA elements on Bhasan Char. With a history of violence and extortion, the re-emergence of these figures poses a significant threat to the safety and security of the refugee community on the island.
Wrong report sir that's not possible