Teknaf, Bangladesh:  A refugee was severely tortured by the camp police on May 30, at about 9 am, for cutting down a small tree near his shed in the camp which he grew, said a refugee leader from the camp.

The victim is Ibrahim (32), son of Jaffar Ahmed, residing in MRC # Z-1989, Shed # 869, Block # C and Shed # 1 of Nayapara refugee camp.

Ibrahim was cutting down the small tree for repairing his shed, when a group of policemen saw him and tortured him severely for cutting the tree without permission from the authorities.

“It is grown by me, and it is not necessary to take permission from the authorities, I believe,” said a relative quoting the victim.    

After severely beating him up, the police left the camp. Later, the victim went to the UNHCR office to lodge a complaint. But, the police patrol of the camp saw the victim in the UNHCR office and became furious. He was severely beaten up again after being dragged out of the UNHCR office.

The victim became unconscious and was immediately carried to MOH hospital in the camp by the refugees.  The victim is still in the camp hospital.  

The camp situation is no different from the situation in Arakan State, Burma, said a refugee from the camp.