Teknaf, Bangladesh: Over 50 unregistered refugees including Rohingyas living outside the camp (local resident area) were arrested yesterday by police in Teknaf and sent to Cox’s Bazaar jail, a refugee camp leader said on condition of anonymity.

The group was arrested by personnel of Bangladeshi Rifles (BDR) from Battalion 42 at the Dumdum Meah checkpoint en route from the unofficial Leda (Tal) camp and the official Nayapara camp to look for work in Teknaf.

The BDR had initially detained more than 90 refugees from the camps, but officials from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees were able to negotiate the release of those recognized as refugees from the Teknaf police station.

Several elderly refugees from the Leda camp were later released by police, while 51 others, including Rohingyas, were sent to Cox’s Bazaar jail.

BDR officials were believed to have held a meeting with Teknaf police regarding refugees, local sources said, but the reason for the meeting was not known.

The sources said that the arrests occurred after the meeting in Teknaf.

Saiful Islam Mujumdar, head of the Nayapara camp, told the refugees prior to their arrest not to leave the camp but gave no reason for the warning, said a refugee leader from Nayapara.

“These arrests occurred after a high-level delegation of diplomats from Bangladesh, accompanied by a United States representative, visited the refugee camp on October 24,” said a resident of Nayapara.

Relatives of the detained, who travelled to Teknaf to see them were not allowed access, said one of the relatives, who was turned away.

Refugees in the Leda and Nayapara camps are not permitted to go outside for any reason. Many camp residents say they have no food or money and they need to work to support their families. The UNHCR recognized refugees need to work because camp rations are not enough to sustain them.

“Refugees fear that there will be more arrests,” said Rahima Khatun, a resident of Leda camp.

Camp residents have identified some of the detained, including Arib Ullah (30) from Block D, Seraz (25) from Block B, Hussain (30) from Block B, Ayub (30) from Block B, and Lal Mea (35) from Block B.

A resident from Teknaf said another group of Rohingya refugees was arrested recently by the BDR near the Burma border, though the number and circumstances are not yet known.