New APBn unit likely in Cox’s Bazar for Rohingya camp security

The government is likely to set up a new, specialised battalion under the Armed Police Battalion (APBn) to strengthen security in Cox’s Bazar’s Rohingya camps, after the existing three battalions were found struggling to contain a rise in criminal activity, sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs said.
The home ministry has scrutinised a proposal for the battalion submitted by Police Headquarters (PHQ) and is understood to be positive about approving it, the sources said.
According to APBn sources, its three existing battalions – 8, 14 and 16 – are now struggling to secure the camps, home to lakhs of Rohingya refugees, amid continuing activity by various criminal groups. The unit sent a proposal to PHQ on 15 July seeking the new battalion, after which PHQ forwarded it to the home ministry, which in turn sought a detailed explanation from APBn.
In its response, APBn said, “The distance from wards No. 3 and 4 to the border is six kilometres, while ward No. 5 has a BGB (Border Guard Bangladesh) camp. From there, the distance to APBn’s 22 No. Unchiprang camp is seven kilometres, and the police investigation centre is located just four kilometres away.
“Since there is no officially registered Rohingya camp directly in that area, it will be more logical to establish a large, specialised and full-fledged battalion rather than set up a separate joint camp.”
The force said the new battalion would allow it to deploy specialised personnel, including a Crisis Response Team (CRT), enabling a more effective response to emergencies in the area.
Contacted by the Daily Sun, Additional Inspector General of Police Md Hasib Aziz, who heads the APBn, confirmed the proposal. “The home minister is very positive. I hope the new battalion will be set up soon,” he said.
“At present, we have three battalions. If the proposed fourth is approved, the total manpower [of the APBn] will be 1,500-1,600,” he added.
He said the existing three battalions operate in Ukhiya and Teknaf, and the proposed fourth, if approved, would also be deployed in the same areas.
Figures from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) show 1,202,034 documented Rohingyas are currently sheltering in 250,581 households across Bangladesh, of whom 1,168,375 live in 243,077 households in Cox’s Bazar alone.
Law enforcement sources said around ten major criminal groups remain active in the camps, including the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO), the Master Munna group, Islami Mahaz, and the Jabu Dakat Dal, Chakma Dakat Dal, Nabi Hossain Dakat Dal, Puitya Dakat Dal, Salman Shah Dakat Dal and Khalek Dakat Dal.
District police data show six murders were recorded in the camps in the first three months of 2026, following 35 in 2025, 49 in 2024 and 66 in 2023.