“A group of 70 camp security personnel, led by Police Inspector Nurul Islam and Camp-in-Charge (CIC) Saiful Islam Mujamder, entered the camp and conducted an operation against the grocery shops inside the official refugee camp.”

“The security personnel destroyed many grocery shops and took away household goods and other essential goods to the CIC’s office.”

They seized rechargeable batteries, television sets, speakers with MP3 players, and other household goods from the refugee shops, worth more than five hundred thousand taka, said a close aide of the police.

In the raid, the police arrested two refugees when they opposed the operation. They are now being detained in the police camp custody.

“No UNHCR staff members are available to receive complaints about the event. The UNHCR are also not able to help with solutions for refugees’ problems, even when the refugees complain.”

“If the camp authorities continue harassing and oppressing refugees in the camp, what will happen during the coming Ramadan (fasting month)?”

“We came to Bangladesh from Arakan State because it is a Muslim country, to save our family and lives, and to escape the persecution of the military junta,” said a committee member. “But in Bangladesh, we also face the same problems here where we thought we would have a safe place.”