Rohingya child held for ransom as kidnappings plague refugee camps
Five-year-old boy is still missing after armed abductors allegedly demanded ransom from his family, highlighting growing kidnapping crisis inside Bangladesh's refugee camps
DHAKA, Bangladesh (MNTV) — A five-year-old Rohingya boy remains in captivity after alleged kidnappers demanded a ransom for his release, the latest in a long-running wave of abductions that has turned kidnapping for money into one of the most persistent security threats inside Bangladesh’s Rohingya refugee camps.
The child, Rahamat Ali, disappeared on July 22 after leaving his family’s shelter in Camp 11 in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, to play near a road, according to Rohingya Khobor.
His family said the kidnappers later contacted them by phone, demanded 500,000 Bangladeshi taka ($4,060) for his release, sent videos of the child and threatened to kill him if the money was not paid.
The case is not an isolated incident. Humanitarian agencies have repeatedly warned that armed criminal groups operating inside the camps routinely abduct refugees — including children — and demand ransom from families already struggling to survive on humanitarian assistance.
Protection monitors have consistently identified kidnapping and extortion as among the gravest security threats facing the nearly one million Rohingya refugees living in Bangladesh.
A second abduction reported the same day illustrates how widespread the practice has become. Hafez Ayass, a 21-year-old student at an Islamic religious school, was allegedly kidnapped while returning to Camp 11 from nearby Bhalukali after attending classes.
His relatives said he was released on July 26 after they paid 400,000 Bangladeshi taka ($3,250) to the abductors. According to the family, the kidnappers had initially demanded 500,000 Bangladeshi taka for his release.
Residents said such demands are devastating for refugee families who are prohibited from working legally and depend largely on food assistance and humanitarian aid.
Many victims’ relatives are forced to borrow money or seek help from extended family members to secure the release of loved ones, while others are left fearing the worst if they cannot pay.
“Why target poor families who cannot even afford their basic food?” residents said as they appealed for Rahamat’s immediate and safe release.
The incident was reported to local community leader Noor Kobir, residents said, while community members urged anyone with information about the child’s whereabouts to come forward.
Violence linked to criminal gangs has become an increasingly serious challenge inside the Rohingya camps in recent years.
Alongside kidnappings for ransom, refugees have faced extortion, killings, armed clashes and forced recruitment by criminal groups, creating an atmosphere of fear that humanitarian organizations say continues to undermine the safety of one of the world’s largest refugee settlements.
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