Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazaar district: A female Rohingya refugee has been facing intimidation in Kutupalong Official Camp since last year as a local Bangladeshi has been harassing her, said a close relative of the victim.

The victim is identified as Taslima (18), MRC #20454, Shed #102, Block #A, of Kutupalong Official Camp. She is working as a Community Trained Birth Assistant (CTBA) for Research Training and Management International (ATMI) in the camp.

A Hindu community member named Tezandra Dash Babu (25), son of Gorandra Dash, who hails from Ukhia Union, sexually harassed the victim Taslima while he was working as a watchman at an office in the camp. Taslima was working in the same office. 

Taslima complained to the concerned authorities about her troubles with Babu, and Babu was then transferred to the Ukhiya office last year. However, he, accompanied by his colleagues, frequently visit the Kutupalong Camp at night to intimidate and harass Taslima. Babu is a member of the Awami League (AL), a pro-government party, so refugees are frightened of his reprisal, said a refugee leader from the camp.

Babu secretly took a photograph of Taslima when he visited the camp. He then went to a computer shop where he made a joint photograph of himself with Taslima. He intends to show it in public and tell others that Taslima was his lover.

Again recently, Taslima filed a complaint to the UNHCR officials and Mr. Mirshokot Hossain, the Camp-in-Charge of Kutupalong Camp, regarding the insecurity of her position in the camp. 

Hence, on March 1, Babu was arrested by officers of the Ukhiya Police Station, said another refugee from the camp.

A relative of the victim said, “Babu is not the same religion of us. Why does he woo Taslima? We want him to receive exemplary punishment.”

In 2007, one local authority member named Boktiar Ahmed from Ukhiya raped a refugee woman named Rahima Khatun (not her real name) on November 15 at Kutupalong Camp. The rapist was arrested by the police and was sentenced to two years imprisonment in Cox’s Bazaar Prison. The victim was transferred to the Cox’s Bazaar UNHCR office for security reasons. In addition, four other refugees also met with troubles because of giving witness from the side of the plaintiff.