Rohingya armed groups are creating serious havoc in Bangladesh and Myanmar with near complete impunity, according to a study report by the Fortify Rights.
"War crimes are usually committed within the immediate theatre of armed conflict, but in this case, crimes in Bangladesh are directly connected to the war in Myanmar. Bangladesh's interim government should cooperate with international justice mechanisms to bring perpetrators to justice," said John Quinley, director of Fortify Rights on Tuesday while launching its study report on Rohingya issue.
The report, titled " 'I May Be Killed at Any Moment' - Killing, Abduction, Torture and Other Serious Violations by Rohingya Militant Groups in Bangladesh."
Despite escalating violence in the Rohingya refugee camps of Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh authorities have downplayed or denied the presence of Rohingya militant groups, allowing them to operate unchecked for years, the report said.
Fortify Rights also warned that recent US government funding cuts have created more space for Rohingya militants, worsening security conditions for refugees.
It accused Bangladesh authorities of failing to acknowledge these groups, contributing to a worsening security crisis in the camps.
According to the report, Rohingya refugees have endured years of violence at the hands of armed factions. Killings by camp-based militants numbered 22 in 2021, 42 in 2022, 90 in 2023, and at least 65 last year.
The findings indicated that until January 2023, the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) controlled the camps.
However, the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO) later emerged and began taking control. Following the conflict between the two groups, incidents of abductions, extortion, and shootings in the camps surged.
The report stated that abductions by Rohingya militants and criminal groups rose from 91 in 2022 to 384 in 2023, and 446 last year.
Similarly, extortion cases jumped from 26 in 2022 to 149 in 2023, and 136 last year. Gun violence incidents surged from 15 in 2022 to 149 in 2023, and 257 last year.
Fortify Rights alleged that under the now-deposed government of Sheikh Hasina, impunity prevailed in the camps, partly due to the government's prolonged denial of Rohingya militant activities.
This refusal to acknowledge their presence, the report claimed, contributed to worsening security conditions, with militants allegedly carrying out killings, abductions, and acts of torture against Rohingya refugees, it said.
For years, the Bangladesh government refused to publicly acknowledge Rohingya militant activities, leading to inaction even as attacks continued.
The report finds "reasonable grounds" to believe that certain crimes committed by militants against Rohingya men, women, and children in Bangladesh amount to war crimes, given their direct connection to the ongoing armed conflict in Myanmar.
