Drug use in the Rohingya camp of Cox's Bazar has been proliferating day by day. A large section of the youth has become addicted to drugs in the camp. As a result, various crimes have increased in the camp periphery. To keep the youth free from drugs, the authorities have organized Myanmar's national sports caneball, popularly known as chinlone, alongside football for the first time in the Rohingya camps.
The Armed Police Battalion-8 (APBn) at the Balukhali Rohingya camp-8 in Ukhia organized the sporting event on Monday with the slogan, ‘Say No to Drugs, Say Yes to Sports’. Additional Deputy Inspector General Md Amir Zafar of APBn-8 inaugurated the event. Earlier, the Rohingya Football League 2023-24 was organized in the first week of January under the banner of Arakan Rohingya Football Federation under the supervision of the Office of the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC). The teams are divided based on the township area of Arakan State, Myanmar.
Amir Zafar said: “Sports develop a person physically and mentally. Therefore, the youth in the camp can stay away from drugs through sports. This sport is organized to keep youth away from drugs in the camp. Apart from that, it is possible to bring the youth back from drugs through sports.”
Rakhine's Nakphura team won the fifth football match of the tournament at Kutupalong refugee camp on Monday afternoon.
The camp in charge, Md Minhazul Islam, said: “1.2 million Rohingyas have taken shelter in this country after being displaced from Myanmar. We have organized this camp-based sport to make them aware of sports and cultural activities. The 12 teams have been divided by region. The attendance of more than 30,000 people to watch the match is evidence of the massive response to the tournament. Sports keep people free from various crimes, including drug abuse.”
Mohammad Rafiq, the Rohingya leader of the camp, said: "The government deserves a lot of praise for organizing the tournament in the camps. It will keep the youth of the camp healthy and agile.”