Rohingya rights group’s office shut in Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s government has allegedly ordered the closure of the office of a Rohingya rights group in a move that rights campaigners have condemned as “unacceptable” and the “muzzling of freedom of speech” of the beleaguered community.

The operational office of the Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Human Rights (ARSPH), based in Kutupalong refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, has been shut since Nov. 2 following an order from the local administration.

“We have been told the decision was passed down from the top level of the government. We have not received any written notice or explanation behind the order for closure,” Abdur Rahim, a member of the ARSPH, told ucanews.

The group’s activities are solely for the rights and welfare of Rohingya refugees and nothing is against the interests of Bangladesh government, so the closure order was unexpected and saddening, he said. 

“Our activities including meetings and rallies have always taken place in broad daylight. Now, we are carrying out our activities in open fields or at home,” Rahim said.

The ARSPH was formed following the 2017 mass exodus of over 700,000 Rohingya from Myanmar’s Rakhine state to Bangladesh to escape a brutal military crackdown.

It has been led by Muhib Ullah, a former teacher turned rights campaigner who became a key voice for the Muslim minority and attended international meetings as a spokesman for the group.

The group and some NGOs have been blamed for the failure of a second attempt at “unconditional” Rohingya repatriation to Myanmar on Aug. 22.

The ARSPH came under fire on Aug. 25 when it organized a mass rally for more than 200,000 Rohingya in the camp with strong calls for fulfilment of demands including citizenship in Myanmar and justice for atrocities before any attempt at repatriation.

The local host communities, now a minority in Cox’s Bazar since the Rohingya influx, have started viewing Rohingya as a bubbling socioeconomic and political threat.

The government launched a crackdown in Kutupalong camp, including banning some NGOs, cutting off mobile phone and internet services and transferring refugee officials.

Freedom of speech

The closure of the ARSPH office without citing specific reasons is unacceptable, said Holy Cross Father Liton H. Gomes, secretary of the Catholic bishops’ Justice and Peace Commission.

“As far we know, this group has not done anything serious that compromises the interests of Bangladesh. Ordering a shutdown without citing any reason is a gagging of freedom of speech of the community,” Father Gomes told ucanews.

Nur Khan, a Dhaka-based rights activist, also criticized the latest move.

“There is nothing wrong in looking after the rights and welfare of Rohingya refugees. The order to shut the office not only curtails freedom of speech but is also illogical on moral and humanitarian grounds,” Khan told ucanews.

“Rights for social assimilation and association are universal human rights. So, if we deny the rights to this vulnerable community, we are not truly committed to their socioeconomic development.”

Muhammad Nikaruzzaman, chief government officer in Ukhiya, which covers most of the refugee camps, denied closing the ARSPH office.

“Since August 25, this group has had no visible activity. We have not ordered the closing of their office, but the illegal electricity connection to the office was cut off, which might have impacted their activities,” Nikaruzzaman told ucanews.

Mahbub Alam Talukder, head of the state-run Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commission (RRRC), made similar claims.

The RRRC told community leaders to hold meetings in allocated multipurpose community centers built by the authorities, AFP news agency reported on Dec. 7.

“We did not shut down any office but we will not allow anything that poses questions on the camps’ overall law and order situation,” Talukder said.