The devastating fire in Rohingya camps number 24 and 25 in the Leda and Alikhali areas of Nhila Union, under Teknaf Upazila of Cox’s Bazar, has been brought under control. The blaze is believed to have started between approximately 9:50pm and 10:30pm on Sunday.
It was brought under control around 11:30pm on Sunday after nearly two hours of effort. However, no reports of casualties have been received. Work is ongoing to assess the extent of the damage.
Preliminary information indicates that the fire originated from a hut in Block F of Leda Rohingya Camp number 24. Within moments, the flames spread to adjacent shelters and quickly got out of control. Subsequently, the fire spread to at least two blocks of the neighbouring Alikhali Rohingya Camp number 25.
Jamin Mia, an officer of the Teknaf Fire Service and Civil Defence Station, said three units of the Fire Service are working to control the blaze. Alongside them, the Armed Police Battalion (APBn), army personnel, camp volunteers, and local residents are jointly trying to extinguish the fire.
Mohammad Alam, Chairman of the Leda Camp Development Management Committee, stated that the initial assumption is that the fire may have started due to an electrical fault while charging a mobile phone in the shelter of a camp resident named Fatema.
He said, “Upon receiving the news, we quickly reached the spot and tried to douse the fire. The Fire Service is also working.”
Camp resident Mohammad Amin said, “The fire suddenly erupted, and I came out with my family. The intensity of the fire was very high, and everyone is in a state of panic.”
Other residents, Syed Alam and Nur Akom Mohammad Alam, said the fire spread so rapidly that it was not possible to save the shelters. According to them, initially, more than 25 to 30 shelters have been burned down. However, the extent of damage in Alikhali Camp-25 could be greater.
Sources indicate that at least two blocks in Alikhali Camp No. 25 have been damaged, and an estimated 200 shelters have been gutted. This number has been estimated based on the situation at the time the fire broke out.
Additional DIG Muhammad Kausar Sikdar, Commanding Officer of the 16 Armed Police Battalion (APBn), said, “The fire incident occurred in the area between the Alikhali and Leda Rohingya camps. All relevant agencies are working together to control the fire. Further details will be provided later.”
It is notable that multiple fire incidents have occurred in the Rohingya camps of Cox’s Bazar before. In the early hours of 26 December, a hospital was completely gutted in a fire at Ukhiya’s Rohingya Camp No. 4. Prior to that, on the night of 25 December, at least 10 shelters were damaged in a fire at the Kutupalong registered Rohingya camp.
