Dhaka Tribune
Siam Sarower Jamil
Publish : 10 Mar 2024,
- Such illegal activities take place in broad daylight without any obstacles
- Refugees using the mobile networks of Myanmar and Bangladesh
- Mobile banking available because of the availability of illegal SIM cards
- Authorities in the dark
The image shows a shop at a Rohingya camp in Cox's Bazar. Photo: SK Sharifuddin Ahad/Dhaka Tribune
While the Bangladesh government, foreigners, and development partners are sympathetic towards the Rohingya community living in the world’s largest refugee camps at Ukhiya and Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar, their involvement in various crimes involving drugs, arms, and human trafficking has been commonplace since the biggest exodus in history in 2017.
But the authorities are now alarmed after a Dhaka Tribune investigation revealed that the Rohingya criminal gangs are using Bangladeshi mobile banking services.
Officials say they had no idea about the use of mobile banking services for transactions in criminal activities to avoid surveillance and that they will investigate the issue seriously.
Officials say they had no idea about the use of mobile banking services for transactions in criminal activities to avoid surveillance and that they will investigate the issue seriously.
Earlier, different government agencies, including the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), discovered the unabated use of illegal SIMs from Myanmar and Bangladesh in the camps and formed a committee to find a feasible way of allowing the Rohingyas to use Bangladeshi mobile networks legally. But the move has faltered for unknown reasons.
Several camp residents said they collect used mobile handsets and SIMs from the markets in Cox’s Bazar, where stolen goods are sold. The Rohingyas buy those sets and SIMs at a low price. Also, as Myanmar’s SIMs are registered in the names of local people, the criminals active in the camps remain outside the surveillance of law enforcement agencies.
Everything is available, on demand
Apart from the criminal gangs, most of the refugees have been using the mobile networks of Myanmar and Bangladesh. Now they are also getting the scope of using mobile banking services in Bangladesh for illegal transactions.
After visiting some Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar on Friday, this correspondent found that such illegal activities take place in broad daylight without any obstacles. In some camps, Rohingya youths have set up small shops. They sell handsets and repair phones alongside other electrical appliances.
Mohammad Aslam owns a mobile shop at Moragachhtola camp number 11. He admitted that sales are good, as the reporter talked to him in the local dialect while hiding his identity.
The used button phones of the Walton, Maximus, and Nokia brands are sold here. “If you pay Tk200, we can arrange the SIM. Most Rohingya families have mobile phones, while the majority of the youth use smart phones. There is even a mobile service centre in the camp where you can get your phone repaired for a small amount of money,” Aslam said, adding that he saw two Rohingyas buying iPhones.
Such phone shops are found in all camps of Cox’s Bazar. Mobile banking is also available because of the availability of illegal SIM cards.
Legalizing local SIMs
The authorities took measures to block the network coverage of Myanmar’s mobile operators in the camps and allow the Rohingyas to use Bangladeshi SIMs. But there has been little progress.
In December of last year, the Home Ministry formed a committee with representatives from other related ministries and various law enforcement agencies. The committee members were asked to visit the camps and give an opinion on how to stop the Myanmar mobile network and use the Bangladeshi SIMs.
The committee was constituted after a team from the BTRC found the allegations to be true. Later, the matter was discussed at a coordination meeting of the national committee on management and law and order issues of the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals at the Home Ministry. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal chaired the meeting.
Such phone shops are found in all camps of Cox’s Bazar. Mobile banking is also available because of the availability of illegal SIM cards.
Legalizing local SIMs
The authorities took measures to block the network coverage of Myanmar’s mobile operators in the camps and allow the Rohingyas to use Bangladeshi SIMs. But there has been little progress.
In December of last year, the Home Ministry formed a committee with representatives from other related ministries and various law enforcement agencies. The committee members were asked to visit the camps and give an opinion on how to stop the Myanmar mobile network and use the Bangladeshi SIMs.
The committee was constituted after a team from the BTRC found the allegations to be true. Later, the matter was discussed at a coordination meeting of the national committee on management and law and order issues of the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals at the Home Ministry. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal chaired the meeting.
At that time, the minister said the government had taken various actions to stop terrorist activities in the Rohingya camps. Moreover, most of the Rohingyas are using Myanmar's mobile network in the camp areas.
He said: “Work is underway to block the network. A committee has also been formed to investigate how Rohingyas can be brought to the Bangladeshi mobile network. Besides, detectives have increased surveillance to monitor the network of criminals.”
Authorities in the dark
BTRC Director General Brigadier General Khalilur Rahman did not respond when contacted over the phone. On the other hand, Deputy Director Delwar Hossain said this matter is not in his jurisdiction.
Mohammad Zulfikar, secretary general of the Association of Mobile Telecom Operators Bangladesh (AMTOB), has denied giving SIM cards to the Rohingyas.
He said: "Mobile operators always follow the instructions of BTRC. The SIM can be activated only after verifying the fingerprint with the information stored in the national identity card database. Rohingyas do not have NID card. If there is no NID card, there is no opportunity to give SIM.
Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) Executive Director Masud Biswas said: "We are not aware of large amounts of illegal money being transacted through mobile banking services in the Rohingya camps. We will definitely investigate if we get specific allegations.”
Asked about the progress of the committee, Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC) Mohammad Mizanur Rahman said the committee sat for a meeting some time ago in the presence of the public security secretary. They decided to shut down Myanmar’s mobile network in the camps. But later, it was found that the results were the opposite. The refugees are still using Myanmar SIMs.
“The committee decided to give Bangladeshi SIMs to the Rohingyas. But the process has not started yet. So, the Rohingyas are now using illegal SIMs.
“I have heard that the Rohingyas are making illegal transactions through mobile banking services. The authorities concerned are monitoring the matter and will take action if this happens anywhere,” he added.
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