Five people arrested for Killing of Mohibullah in Bangladesh

Five people have been arrested in connection with the killing of prominent Bangladeshi community leader, Mohibullah.

The Rohingya refugee activist was fatally shot at the Kuptalong camp in Cox’s Bazar on the southeast coast of Bangladesh.

The incident took place on Wednesday, September 29, 2021, in what is thought to be the world’s largest refugee settlement.

Now according to Naimul Huq, a police official in Cox’s Bazar, five suspects have been arrested by the Bangladeshi authorities.

He confirmed: “We have arrested five people over the murder of Mohib Ullah.”

Two of those arrested were questioned while in custody for three days and the other three suspects are yet to appear in court.

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said:

“The government will take stern action against those who were involved in the killing.

“No one will be spared. The killers of Mohibullah must be brought to justice.”

Although none of the five individuals have been formally identified, Momen suggested that “vested” interests were responsible.

Mohibullah’s family blamed militants from the Myanmar-based insurgent group, Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA).

Activists believe that the community leader may have been targeted due to ARSA’s anger with his rapidly rising popularity.

A 28-year-old Rohingya man was also arrested and all six are currently being investigated for links to ARSA.

ARSA blamed “unidentified criminals” for the death of the Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Human Rights (ARSPH) chair.

A member of the human rights group alleged that 35-year-old ARSA member, Mohammad Elias was one of those arrested.

Asking to remain anonymous for his own safety, he said that Elias had previously threatened Mohibullah in June 2021.

The ARSPH member added that at least 10 leaders of the group are currently in hiding as they were afraid of further attacks.

Despite authorities ramping up security within the camp, his family is also concerned about their own safety.

Mohibullah’s younger brother Habibullah said: “We can’t get out of the house.

“They [ARSA] are threatening to kill us.”

“We received threats through audio messages in the past few days. I am now in a state of panic.

“We received the death threats for saying that ARSA members killed my brother.”

Cox’s Bazar police spokesman Rafiqul Islam said authorities were ready to provide security to the family if they made an appeal.

Over 750,000 members of the Rohingya community fled from Myanmar to Bangladesh in 2017 following a brutal military offensive where thousands were killed and properties and farms were destroyed.

The United Nations (UN) called for Myanmar officials to face genocide charges and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet called for a “prompt, thorough, and independent investigation” into the recent killing.