DHAKA: In response, Bangladeshi police have denied allegations they mistreated Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar, as Human Rights Watch urged authorities to look into reports of undue detention and harassment by security forces in camps there .

According to a report released earlier this week by the international rights watchdog, the Armed Police Battalion, which took over security for the camps in July 2020, was in charge of maintaining security standards in the Cox's Bazar refugee settlements.

In October and November 2022, HRW claimed to have spoken with dozens of Rohingya and examined police reports describing incidents of "serious abuse by APBN officers", including violence, detained on "apparently fabricated grounds". Includes demand for bribe in exchange for taking and release.

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On Saturday, APBN said the allegations were "baseless" and "one-sided".
According to Syed Haroonor Rashid, additional deputy inspector general of the force in Cox's Bazar, "First, they did not inquire about the alleged incidents that happened to us. Only a few Rohingyas detained by law enforcement were spoken to."

"Based on the statements of a few persons who have been detained alone, an unbiased report cannot be made. This is a completely biased report which has been written without consulting us; it is also wrong and is without basis."

In August two refugee community leaders were reportedly shot dead by a rebel group, which has been accused of killing dozens of opponents and local community leaders since 2021, over security in Rohingya settlements Worry arose. There have also been more reports of criminal groups using refugees as drug traffickers.

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In response to the increase in criminal activity, the APBN launched "Operation Route Out" in October. Last year, around 1,000 Rohingyas were detained on charges related to murder, drugs and illegal weapons, according to police figures. We are continuing our efforts to prevent such activity.) According to Rashid, as of now the situation is under control.

We are nabbing those responsible for this type of activity while also recovering drugs and weapons. Over 2,000 members of APBN have been deployed in Cox's Bazar to maintain law and order.

More than 1.2 million Muslims from the Rohingya minority live in Bangladesh today; Most of them left neighboring Myanmar in 2017 as a result of the military crackdown. Most of them are housed in camps in Cox's Bazar, a coastal region in eastern Bangladesh, which has developed into the largest refugee settlement in the world.

HRW called on Bangladeshi authorities to investigate alleged abuses against Rohingya living in refugee camps in Cox's Bazar and develop measures to ensure effective treatment for victims, along with increased funding from donors including the US, UK, EU and Australia. Also urged to "pressurize". To better protect refugees.

The 2022 Joint Response Plan for the Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis received less than half of the $881 million needed for the year. Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal responded to the call by saying that HRW should "investigate properly."

Jyotirmoy Baruah, a Bangladeshi lawyer and human rights activist, believes the monitor's allegations warrant further investigation.

"Whatever the form of intimidation or harassment," he told Arab News, "it should be impartially investigated if an allegation emerges that someone's life has been threatened by persons who are charged with the responsibility of protecting that life." given.

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"Since I do not have direct knowledge of the situation, I cannot say whether these allegations are true or not. However, looking at the allegations, I believe that there should be an impartial investigation into the situation."