Exploring insecurity, crime, and violence in Rohingya camps in Bangladesh: types, factors, existing measures, and challenges

Socio-political insecurity, crime, and violence have been on the rise in the Rohingya camps in Bangladesh. This qualitative study explored the types, factors, existing measures, and challenges associated with insecurity, crime, and violence within the Rohingya camps. This study then sought to address the challenges of achieving Sustainable Development Goal 16 (peace, justice, and strong institutions) within the context of the Rohingya crisis. Ten key informant interviews were conducted using snowball sampling. The thematic analysis revealed drug smuggling and trading, the dominance of extremist groups, killing, human smuggling and trafficking, frequent fire outbreaks, stealing, and gender-based violence as the major insecurity issues in the camp. Financial interests, lack of mental well-being, and involvement of extremist Rohingya groups were identified as factors behind them. As a precaution against such events, limited access to camp areas, multiple checkpoints, relocating Rohingya refugees to Bhasan Char island, and training for humanitarian workers were found to be in place. The lack of policies, difficulties with interventions, and the use of false identification documents were identified as challenges. Based on these findings, this study provides several recommendations for national authorities, humanitarian organisations, and international partners to enhance security, justice, and social stability in the Rohingya camps, and to ensure peace, justice, and strong institutions, as outlined in SDG 16.