5 Civilians, Including Children, Hit by Bullets During Shooting Incident Between ARSA and RSO in Cox's Bazar Refugee Camp

News February 7, 2026

In a refugee camp located in Teknaf Township, Cox's Bazar District, Bangladesh, a shootout occurred between two Muslim armed groups, ARSA and RSO, resulting in five people, including a child, being struck by bullets and injured, according to received information.

The incident took place on the night of February 5 in Alikhali Camp-25, where ARSA and RSO exchanged fire with heavy and light weapons over territorial control.

During the shooting, nearby residents and refugees were hit by bullets. The injured individuals are:

• Abdur Rahman, 36 years old

• Mohammad Jisan, 13 years old

• Barsha Mia (local resident), 38 years old

• Nasarath Jahan (local resident), 18 years old

• Shahabuddin (local resident), 11 years old

The injured have been transferred to a hospital in Cox's Bazar. Currently, their lives are not in danger, though family members stated that some will require surgery.

What is notable in this incident is that three local Bangladeshi residents near the camp were also hit by bullets. The armed groups' violence inside the refugee camp has extended beyond the camp fences, threatening nearby villages. This has caused special concern among local Rakhine people and Bangladeshi citizens regarding security.

In the refugee camps of Cox's Bazar District, clashes between these armed groups have frequently occurred in the past over control of drug trafficking routes and human smuggling operations.

Recently, security breaches inside the camps have increased significantly, with abductions and murders occurring more frequently, according to statements from refugees living in the camps.

At present, Bangladesh's Armed Police Battalion (APBn) has increased security inside the camp and is searching for those involved in the shooting.

source@arakanbaynews