21/04/2026
A 26-year-old Rohingya youth from Camp 07 is feared dead after fleeing by sea following months of threats, public harassment, and unsuccessful attempts to seek protection inside the refugee camps.
Mohammed Ullah, a resident of Block A-04 in Camp 07, worked as a volunteer at a nutrition center run by Friendship NGO and was known among peers for his involvement in youth-led and human rights activities.
According to information he documented before his disappearance, the threats began on 10 November 2025, after he shared a short, humorous video on Facebook involving a man identified as Dil Mohammed. Ullah reportedly stated that the post was not intended to insult anyone and had been widely shared by others in the community.
Shortly after the post, he began receiving threatening phone calls and WhatsApp voice messages. Several callers identified themselves as members of the Rohingya Committee for Peace and Repatriation (RCPR), while others claimed links to ARSA and RSO networks.
On the same day, at around 12:49 PM, a man identified as Abu Talek from Camp 11 allegedly called Ullah and asked him to come to his camp. After he refused, his contact information was reportedly passed to another individual, Mv Ediris, described as a local leader in Camp 7. At 1:23 PM, Ediris called and asked Ullah to come to a madrasa, but he declined, citing safety concerns.
Later that afternoon, at approximately 4:31 PM, Ediris, accompanied by a local leader and the block’s head majhi, allegedly confronted Ullah publicly at a shop. Witnesses say he was pressured, his phone was taken, and he was forced to delete the Facebook post.
Despite complying, the intimidation reportedly continued. At 4:42 PM, another individual, identified as Abu Sayed and allegedly linked to RSO, called Ullah and demanded that he record a video message addressed to Dil Mohammed. Ullah later claimed he was told that action had been ordered against him.
In the following months, Ullah attempted to seek protection. On 12 February 2026, he called the UNHCR protection hotline twice but was unable to reach any officer. He also attempted to send an email, which reportedly failed to deliver. Additional efforts to seek help inside the camp were unsuccessful, according to his account.
Facing ongoing threats and with no effective protection, Ullah is believed to have fled the camp by sea.
His family now fears he may have been among around 250 Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants aboard a boat reported missing or sunk in the Andaman Sea. His fate remains unconfirmed.
Residents in Camp 07 say fear is widespread. Many Rohingya are unwilling to speak openly about Ullah’s case, alleging that the camp is influenced or controlled by organized gang groups, creating a climate of intimidation.
Before his disappearance, Ullah reportedly preserved evidence of threats, including call records, WhatsApp messages, and voice recordings, which could assist any future investigation.
The case highlights ongoing concerns over safety, freedom of expression, and access to protection for Rohingya refugees living in the camps in Cox’s Bazar.
