The UN Secretary-General’s Curious Rohingya Refugee Guests
When Armed Groups Get VIP Treatment
They banned mobile phones for ordinary refugees, yet somehow ensured that known smugglers, Myanmar Army informants, and their coterie of armed group affiliates landed prized seats near the top table - cosying up to the United Nations Secretary-General himself. Yes, that’s right: Mv Abdu Rahim, with his trademark fiery red beard and a close associate of Dil Muhammad - the infamous Myanmar military informer and recruiter - received a warm welcome at this so-called “humanitarian” iftar.
Rumour has it Dil Muhammad himself might have been lurking too, though the photographic evidence is still not forthcoming.
And if there were any doubts about the kind of company Mv Rahim keeps, just take a look at these images - one after another, he is pictured alongside a who’s who of armed group operatives, traffickers, and known enforcers. The very people who should be nowhere near a legitimate humanitarian gathering were instead enjoying front-row access.
On December 25, 2024, Rahim was also present at the rally of the so-called "4 Brothers Alliance," where Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO), Arakan Rohingya Army (ARA), and Rohingya Islami Mahaz (RIM) staged a massive gathering in Kutupalong Camp 1W. The very same man who now finds himself at high-profile diplomatic iftars alongside U.N. officials was there, fully aligned with armed groups openly advocating for war in Arakan. Among those in attendance was Dil Muhammad, standing alongside the very groups he has manipulated and brokered deals with.
Here he is, side by side with ‘Thabbey’ Dil Muhammad.
During the OIC Special Envoy’s visit to the Rohingya camps, Mv Abdu Rahim—lead a delegation to meet him. Flanked by figures from ARSA, RSO, etc., he played the role of ‘community representative’ while standing at the forefront of yet another state-sanctioned charade. After my exposé in the Dhaka Tribune blew the lid off this farce, I reached out to OIC Special Envoy Ibrahim Khairat for an explanation. His response? A textbook case of diplomatic ignorance. He admitted that he had "no information" about the backgrounds of the individuals he met. According to him, his discussions were focused on supporting the Rohingya and securing their return to Myanmar.
It beggars belief that these (ARSA, RSO, ARA and 8 others) are the very organisations that appeared on the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence Committee’s own blacklist of armed gangs and militant groups, yet here they are, apparently enjoying “favoured guest” status. At what point do we recognise that these visits have become de facto platforms for armed groups and their backers to legitimise themselves?
So what exactly are Bangladesh's intelligence agencies - the National Security Intelligence (NSI) and the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) - up to? And what about the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC)? These are the entities that approve, coordinate, and control every high-profile diplomatic meeting in the camps. Would they care to explain why outfits previously blacklisted are now enjoying prime access?
That's a rhetorical question; we all know the answer. These agencies are orchestrating events from behind the scenes and are manipulating the narrative to serve a particular agenda.
Refugees, meanwhile, are told to stay away if they don’t have a token, and leave their phones at home. Heaven forbid they might photograph or record the unscrupulous dealings that pass for “diplomacy” in these so-called humanitarian visits. If the world’s top diplomats are willing to rub shoulders with individuals known to peddle drugs, recruit teenage soldiers, and fight alongside the Myanmar military, then one has to wonder if there’s any moral line left that won’t be crossed for the sake of geo-political self-interest.
The top table of maulvis at this gathering says it all. Figures like Mv Abdu Rahim and his associates - closely linked to armed groups - sat in prime seats, enjoying state-sanctioned legitimacy. One might ask: what business do religious scholars have rubbing shoulders with informants and war recruiters?
There is a famous Rohingya adage that seems fitting here:
Moloi Sarkari - "State-Sponsored Maulvi" (preaching the official line)
Moloi Tarkari - "Convenience Maulvi" (adapting teachings to suit tastes or the moment)
Moloi Dorkari - "Maulvi of the People" (valued by the community)
Moloi Rabbani - "Godly Maulvi" (sincere in faith and devotion)
Looking at that table, two categories stand out - the State-Sponsored Maulvi and the Convenience Maulvi. These men aren’t there because of their religious virtue but because they serve a purpose. They preach what is required, align with whoever is in power, and lend a veneer of religious credibility to the very forces that cause mayhem in the camps. Their sermons may quote scripture but their allegiance is dictated by politics.
So let’s call this what it is: a farce. The top table was loaded with men who exploit and endanger the Rohingya. By giving them star treatment in front of the U.N. Secretary-General, the message is clear: these organisations are no longer rogue elements - they now carry official endorsement.
The images speak for themselves. They offer a troubling glimpse into Bangladesh’s geopolitical ambitions. These groups are being cultivated, projected forward, and positioned as Dhaka’s proxies in a brewing Arakan conflict. And their role won’t stop at the battlefield. They will dictate terms to the refugees in the camps, enforcing control, silencing dissent, and ensuring that only their agenda prevails. Instead of focusing on real solutions or championing the rights of the vulnerable, officials are effectively crowning the very groups that terrorise the camps.
Thank you for this valuable analysis. Would it be unwise to wonder if, in societies where women and their point of view are popularly dismissed as being irrelevant, such overlap between brutal force and access to rights becomes simply business as usual?