Ukhiya, Aug. 15 (V7N) — A Bangladeshi man was seriously injured after being shot near a mosque at a Rohingya refugee camp in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, on Friday, with local residents alleging that armed Rohingya men were responsible.
The incident reportedly took place at around 1:40pm after Friday prayers in front of Masjid-e-Sunnah in Block C-2 of Rohingya Camp-14 in Palongkhali Union.
The injured man was identified as Obaidul Haque Lalu, 30, son of Abul Hossain, also known as Bhulu, from Chorkhola area of Ward 4 in Palongkhali Union. He is reportedly involved in local business.
Lalu was initially taken by local residents to the MSF hospital in Kutupalong after sustaining a gunshot wound to his right ankle. He was later transferred to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital for further treatment, his mother, Saira Khatun, said.
According to police and local residents, an altercation broke out between Lalu and a group of armed Rohingya men as he was leaving the mosque after Friday prayers. Locals alleged that one of the men was Mohammad Yunus, 35, who reportedly identifies himself as a commander associated with the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO).
Several other individuals were allegedly present, including head majhi Amanullah, site majhi Sabbir Ahmed, Chakma Osman, Mohammad Harun and Mohammad Faruk.
Witnesses said several armed men subsequently opened fire at Lalu. He was hit in the right ankle. Local residents said they heard around five gunshots during the incident.
Residents further alleged that after the shooting, the armed men crossed through a section of the camp’s perimeter fencing and entered an area inhabited by Bangladeshi families, triggering panic among people living nearby.
Jahangir Alam, the injured man’s elder brother, said Lalu was suddenly targeted while leaving the mosque and was wounded in the leg. He called for a proper investigation and the prompt arrest of those responsible.
A local resident, Mariam Begum, said she heard several gunshots shortly after Friday prayers and later learned that a Bangladeshi man had been shot, creating panic in the area.
Another resident, Siraj Mia, alleged that armed members of the RSO entered the area after Friday prayers and opened fire before crossing the perimeter fence towards nearby Bangladeshi homes. He said the arrival of police helped bring the situation under control.
Local resident Nur Ayesha said residents became frightened after hearing the gunshots and later learned that Lalu had been shot. She urged the authorities to identify and arrest those responsible and called for greater security for local residents.
M Gafur Uddin Chowdhury, chairman of Palongkhali Union Parishad, said the shooting of a local resident was concerning and called for stronger law-enforcement operations to recover illegal firearms and ammunition from the Rohingya camps.
Ukhiya Police Station Sub-Inspector Arman Azad said a Bangladeshi shopkeeper had been shot by armed Rohingya men near a mosque beside the perimeter fence of Camp-14.
“Police went to the scene after receiving the report and brought the situation under control. Efforts are underway to determine the actual cause of the incident, recover the firearm used in the shooting and identify and arrest those involved,” he said.
Riaz Uddin Ahmed, acting commander of the 8th Armed Police Battalion (APBn), which is responsible for security at the Rohingya camps, confirmed that a Bangladeshi businessman had been injured in the shooting.
“Security measures were strengthened immediately after the incident and additional police personnel were deployed at the scene. The situation is currently under control,” he said.
The incident has renewed concerns over security in and around the Rohingya camps, particularly along areas bordering Bangladeshi settlements. Allegations that armed individuals crossed the camp perimeter into nearby residential areas are also being closely monitored by local residents and authorities.
END/MSI/SMA/
