Ukhiya, July 14 (V7N) – In a significant joint operation by the Bangladesh Army and Armed Police Battalion (APBN), four members of the notorious Rakhine-based militant group led by Nabi Hossain were arrested at the Ukhiya Rohingya refugee camp in Cox's Bazar. The operation, which took place on the night of Sunday, July 13, in the Balukhali-11 refugee camp, resulted in the recovery of a foreign-made firearm (UJI-SMG) and a cash sum of Tk 14 lakh.

The raid was conducted at the house of local camp leader Kefaet Ullah in Block C-6 of the Balukhali-11 camp. The arrested individuals were reportedly active members of the Nabi Hossain group, which has long been linked to criminal activities in the Rohingya refugee camps.

Confirming the operation's authenticity, Additional DIG of APBN (8-APBN) Riaz Uddin Ahmed stated that the group’s members detained during the raid were identified as:

Mohammad Anas (30), son of Mohammad Yusuf, a resident of Block E, Camp 11

Mansur Ahmed (32), son of Nur Bashar, a resident of Block C-14, Camp 9

Yasir Arafat (35), son of Nazim Uddin, a resident of Block C-16, Camp 9

Kefaet Ullah (35), son of Syed Ahmed, a resident of Block C-6, Camp 11

The foreign firearm, which was identified as a UJI Submachine Gun (SMG), is typically used by the Myanmar military. According to the authorities, the weapon was intended to be transported to the Nabi Hossain group’s stronghold in Camp 8 East.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the arrested individuals had met with arms dealer Elias to collect the weapon. However, upon noticing the presence of security forces, Elias fled the scene, leaving the four members behind.

Nabi Hossain: A Rising Threat in the Camps

Nabi Hossain, currently operating as a commander for the Arakan Rohingya Army (ARSA), a Myanmar-based armed group, is a major figure of fear in the Rohingya camps. He is also the leader of the Rohingya Committee for Peace and Repatriation (RCPR), which is known for engaging in a wide range of illegal and violent activities.

Having entered Bangladesh through the Chakamakatta border in 2023, Nabi Hossain quickly became one of the most feared militants within the camps. He has since constructed a 60-feet-long and 20-feet-wide concrete building in Camp 8 East, which operates as his operational headquarters, despite such structures being banned in the camps.

Under his leadership, the camp areas have witnessed an alarming rise in criminal activities, including arms drills, extortion, drug trafficking, and violence. These actions have left ordinary Rohingya refugees living in constant fear, further complicating the fragile security situation within the camps.

Law Enforcement Action

Muhammad Arif Hossain, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Ukhiya Police Station, confirmed the truth of the operation and stated that legal action is being taken against the four detainees. The authorities are continuing their efforts to dismantle the criminal operations run by the Nabi Hossain group, which has destabilized the security of the refugee camps in the region.

The operation marks another critical step in the Bangladesh government's ongoing efforts to address the rise of militant groups within the refugee camps and ensure the safety of the local population.

END/SIU/SMA/