Ansar commander killed in attack on Rohingya camp

The 13-member platoon had been posted at the Rohingya camp in Hnila’s Muchni area for security reasons.

The incident took place at dawn on Friday.

The attackers looted eleven firearms belonging to Ansar personnel during the raid, refugee camp police OC Md Kashem told bdnews24.com.

Kashem identified the deceased as platoon commander Ali Hossain, 55, of Tangail.

He said, “A group of robbers attacked the camp around 3am. Hossain was injured when they opened fire. He was rushed to the camp hospital, where the doctor declared him dead.”

The OC said the attackers made away with two SMGs, five Chinese rifles, four shotguns and 670 rounds of bullets.

The injured Ansar members were being treated at the camp hospital.

Hossain’s body was sent to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital for autopsy.

District Superintendent of Police Shyamal Kumar Nath said locals informed them about a robbers’ hideout in the hills west of the refugee camp.

“We’ve started a raid there to arrest the perpetrators and recover the looted firearms,” he added.

Recounting the incident, eye witness Ajit Barua said that about 30-35 attackers were involved in the assault. Their faces were veiled with helmets and masks and most wore shorts, he said.

Barua, who was posted as the night guard at the barracks told bdnews24.com that a group of 30-35 armed attackers raided the barracks in the early hours of Friday and before he could comprehend the situation they overpowered him.

While some of them held him hostage, a group of four to five entered the barracks and held the Ansar personnel hostage.

At one point they reached Commander Ali Hossain and demanded that he handed over the keys to the arms depot. When he refused some of them took him out and shot him, Barua recalled.