A gunfight involving three armed Rohingya groups in a refugee camp in Ukhia, Cox’s Bazar, left a mother and her son injured on Thursday evening, triggering panic among residents in the surrounding blocks.
The clash took place at Camp 8 East, particularly around Blocks B-40 and B-41. According to local sources, the exchange of gunfire began at around 5.30pm on 27 August and continued intermittently until approximately 10pm.
The two injured residents were identified as Tahera Begum, wife of Nur Alam, and her son, Mohammad Yusuf. Both are residents of Block B-41. They were reportedly caught in the gunfire and sustained bullet wounds during the confrontation.
After being rescued, Tahera Begum and Mohammad Yusuf were taken to the MSF hospital in Kutupalong for initial treatment. As their condition subsequently deteriorated, doctors referred them to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital for further medical care.
Witnesses and local residents said the confrontation involved members of three armed Rohingya groups — the Arakan Rohingya Army (ARA), the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) and the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO).
The prolonged sound of gunfire caused considerable fear inside the camp. Residents living near the affected blocks reportedly remained indoors while the shooting continued. Some locals estimated that between 120 and 200 rounds may have been fired during the confrontation. However, the exact number of shots could not immediately be independently confirmed by the authorities.
The incident was confirmed by Mohammad Riaz Uddin Ahmed, acting commander of the 8 Armed Police Battalion (APBn), which is responsible for maintaining security in the camp. He said members of the law-enforcement agencies were sent to the area promptly after receiving information about the shooting.
According to the APBn official, the situation was brought under control after security personnel moved into the area. He also confirmed that two members of the same family had been wounded during the gunfire and were subsequently transferred from the MSF hospital to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital after their condition worsened.
Authorities are now working to establish the circumstances that led to the confrontation and identify those involved. Security personnel have been maintaining vigilance in the area to prevent further violence and keep the situation under control.
The incident once again highlights the security challenges faced by residents of the densely populated Rohingya camps in Ukhia. Sporadic clashes and armed confrontations can create immediate risks for civilians living close to areas where rival groups operate. Thursday’s shooting was particularly concerning for residents of Blocks B-40 and B-41 because the gunfire continued for several hours.
At the time of reporting, no further casualties had been confirmed beyond the injured mother and son. Details about the condition of the two victims, the precise cause of the clash and whether any arrests had been made were not immediately available.
Law-enforcement authorities said efforts were continuing to collect detailed information about the incident and determine the identities of those responsible. Security measures in the camp were also being maintained to ensure that the violence did not spread to other areas.
