Bangladesh targets rental syndicate behind illegal Rohingya settlements
Authorities dismantle profit-driven network accused of renting illegal hillside shelters to Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar
DHAKA, Bangladesh (MNTV) — Bangladeshi authorities have launched a crackdown on an alleged land and rental syndicate accused of operating illegal Rohingya settlements outside the country’s registered refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, officials said.
The operation, carried out early Sunday in the Moragachhtola area of Balukhali in Ukhiya, focused on dismantling hundreds of makeshift shelters built by cutting into protected hills. Officials say the structures were developed outside the formal camp system and were being rented out to displaced Rohingya families by local intermediaries seeking profit.
According to administrators, the network charged between 2,000 and 3,000 Bangladeshi taka per person per month ($16 to $24), generating substantial monthly income. Several individuals accused of organizing and managing the settlements were detained during the operation.
Security forces cordoned off the area at dawn as part of the joint operation. Authorities said Rohingya residents found in the informal shelters were being relocated back to registered camps through the Office of the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner.
Executive Magistrate Manju Bin Afnan of Cox’s Bazar said legal action was being taken against those responsible for establishing and profiting from the unauthorized settlements. Among those arrested, two individuals were sentenced to imprisonment on drug-related charges, while others were fined.
Bangladesh hosts more than 1 million Rohingya refugees who fled military violence in neighboring Myanmar beginning in 2017. Most live in densely populated, government-administered camps in Ukhiya and Teknaf. Movement and construction outside designated camp boundaries are restricted under national regulations.
Analysts and local observers say informal settlements often emerge due to overcrowding inside official camps, limited livelihood opportunities, and prolonged uncertainty over repatriation. However, authorities argue that illegal land clearing and unregulated housing create environmental risks, including deforestation and hill erosion, while also enabling criminal networks to operate.
The latest operation highlights a growing concern among officials: that vulnerable displaced families are being exploited by organized groups profiting from housing shortages and regulatory gaps in the region.
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