Ukhiya, Bangladesh: Camp authorities raided and seized all the equipment from a workshop at the official Kutupalong Refugee Camp on July 10, a refugee at the camp said.
A group of camp security personnel, camp police, and office staff including the Camp-in-Charge went to refugee mechanic Md. Ayas’s shack and seized all equipment from his workshop inside his shack for the reason that refugees are not allowed to work in the camp.
Md. Ayas, 35, lives in Block E, shack #20/6 of Kutupalong Official Camp. He has been repairing mobiles phones, batteries, and wristwatches at Kutupalong for a long time.
The officials seized nine mobile sets, six rechargeable batteries, twenty mobile phone batteries, fifteen chargers, and 4,500 taka, according to sources.
After seizing, all materials were brought to the police box of the camp.
Yesterday, Mohamed Ayas tried to complain to the UNHCR, but failed as the UNHCR staffs were not available in the official camp because of demonstrations across Bangladesh.
Similarly, the camp police and security force are harassing the refugees in the Nayapara Official Camp. The refugees cannot go outside in front of the police gate, said a refugee.
“Police also seized many rechargeable batteries and other things from the refugees, but the security officials have not returned anything to the refugees.”
“Many refugees from Nayapara have complained about the activities of the camp security to the UNHCR and the Camp-in-Charge, but no action has been taken against the camp police officer Nurul Islam by UNHCR or the Camp-in-Charge.”
