Rohingya camp leader hacked to death in Cox's Bazar

Assailants have hacked a head majhi, or camp leader, to death at a Rohingya settlement in Cox's Bazar's Ukhiya.

The incident occurred around 9:30pm on Tuesday at the M/32 block of the Walapalong village's Rohingya Camp No. 20, according to Mohammad Siraj Amin, chief of the 14th Armed Police Battalion, or APBn.

The victim -- 25-year-old Mohammad Nur -- was the son of Abu Syed from M/32 block. He fled Mangdu in Myanmar’s Rakhine province with his family and took refuge in Bangladesh in 2017. Nur was then appointed as head majhi of Rohingya Camp No. 20.

Nur was returning home after Taraweeh prayers at the mosque on Tuesday, Siraj said, citing locals. A group of armed assailants allegedly surrounded him on the way and hacked him to death.

Pedestrians passing by called police after they saw the body lying in a pool of blood. Nur had been attacked during Ramadan last year as well, Siraj said.

"This could be the result of a personal feud. However, we'll be able to uncover the truth after further investigation. We're working on it."

The necessary legal steps are being taken, said Arif Hossain, chief of Ukhiya Police Station. Nur's body will be handed over to his family after an autopsy.