From gang-related violence to outright killings, there have been many problems that are plaguing the Rohingya refugee community that, so far, we have failed to solve. And while some of these issues are admittedly difficult to solve, some of the more obvious problems still go un-tackled. For example, the recent fire at a Rohingya camp in Cox’s Bazar’s Ukhiya.
The fire broke out at camp no 17 in Ukhiya at around 1pm and was doused shortly after. Fortunately, there were no casualties. But given that this has happened for the third time in four months, there is reason to be concerned that, if not investigated, such fires could become recurrent.
It cannot be overstated: The safety concerns of the Rohingya refugees need to be addressed.
To that end, recently, the administration saw fit to send the family members of a slain Rohingya leader to Canada in order to ensure their safety. While such measures are welcome, we need to be more pro-active.
This is something that we can easily start with the fires. A proper investigation has to be conducted and changes have to be made to the logistics of the camps. We also need to increase the number of patrols in these areas to make sure that no matter the circumstance, no crime can happen in these areas.
It is a tall order, but we gave our word to these refugees that they would be safe in Bangladesh. In order to keep it, the utmost vigilance from relevant authorities is a must.
