Fire at Balukhali Rohingya camp 'planned sabotage': Probe body
A probe body has found evidence that the 5 March fire incident, that gutted at least 2,000 shanties at Kutupalong Balukhali Rohingya camp, was a planned act of sabotage.
The fire was started as an attempt to establish supremacy inside the camp by Rohingya terrorist groups, according to the investigation report, Additional District Magistrate Abu Sufian, head of the investigation committee, made the disclosure at the Cox's Bazar deputy commissioner's (DC) office Sunday (12 March).
However, the investigation committee formed by the Cox's Bazar district administration could not identify the names of the arsonists.
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The probe body thus called for further investigation and a case to be filed in this regard.
Abu Sufian said, "The committee talked to at least 50 Rohingyas residing there, who gave different names. As it is difficult to identify, the probe body is in favour of further investigation after a case is filed."
He said that the fire started at 2:30am, which was brought under control at 6pm.
"Fire ensued in several places within a short period of time. It proves that the incident was a sabotage," he added.
The seven-member probe body made ten recommendations so that such incidents can be averted in the future and handled in a better way.
The recommendations include – road-widening inside the camps to allow movement of law enforcement and fire service vehicles, the construction of roadside water tanks, the use of less flammable materials instead of tarpaulin in shelters, forming a separate fire service unit for Rohingya camps, refraining from setting up markets inside the camps, avoiding showcase of flammable materials anywhere except adjacent to main roads, avoid setting up outlets in front of camp gates as it is difficult for vehicles to travel through, regular training and awareness programmes for voluntary participation of Rohingyas in fire fighting, installation of wireless towers and CCTV cameras, and security fencing to prevent fleeing from one camp to another.
On 5 March, a devastating fire broke out in one of the 33 camps hosting almost one million Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar.
The blaze destroyed an estimated 2,805 shelters, as well as health and education facilities, water networks and other key infrastructures for people living in the camp.
Refugees in the most affected areas lost their belongings, including registration documents.
Rohingya refugees fled targeted violence in their native Myanmar in 2017, and the majority have since been hosted by Bangladesh in camps in Cox's Bazar district.
