Did Bangladesh Government Have a Hand in Mohibullah’s Assassination?

Did Bangladesh Government Have a Hand in Mohibullah’s Assassination?

Rohingya leader Mohibullah was the chairman of the Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Human Rights (ARSPH).

The assassination of Rohingya leader Mr. Mohibullah remains a deeply controversial issue. While the Bangladesh government has officially blamed ARSA (Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army) for his killing, many Rohingya believe that powerful figures in Bangladesh orchestrated the murder for political and financial reasons.

Was Mohibullah Killed to Protect Bangladesh’s Interests?

Mr. Mohibullah was a prominent advocate for Rohingya repatriation. He pushed for the Rohingya people’s right to return to Myanmar with full citizenship and dignity. His efforts gained international attention, and he became a key voice for the Rohingya cause.

However, some Rohingya intellectuals argue that Bangladesh had no real interest in repatriating Rohingya refugees. The presence of nearly a million Rohingya in Bangladesh has attracted billions of dollars in international aid from NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) and INGOs (International Non-Governmental Organizations). If the refugees were to return to Myanmar, this aid flow would decrease, impacting Bangladesh’s economy and the financial interests of many powerful individuals.

Some Rohingya claim that Bangladesh viewed Mohibullah as a threat to this financial arrangement. By eliminating him, those who benefit from the refugee crisis could ensure that the cycle of dependency and aid continues.

Security Failures: A Cover-Up?

The Bangladesh government is responsible for maintaining law and order in the Rohingya refugee camps through the Armed Police Battalion (APBn). Despite the heavy security presence, Mohibullah was assassinated inside the camp with no police intervention.

This raises serious questions:

How could a well-known Rohingya leader be killed so easily in a highly policed area?

Why didn’t the authorities protect him, even though he had received threats before?

Was there a deliberate failure to act, allowing the assassination to take place?

Many Rohingya claim that APBn police are corrupt and often turn a blind eye to violence, extortion, and crime inside the camps. Some suspect that elements within the Bangladesh government allowed the attack to happen or even facilitated it to remove a leader whose activism threatened their interests.

Did Bangladesh Use ARSA as a Scapegoat?

After Mohibullah’s assassination, the Bangladesh government quickly blamed ARSA. However, this explanation does not convince many Rohingya. If ARSA was already under pressure from Bangladesh’s security forces, why would they risk an international backlash by killing a high-profile leader?

Some Rohingya believe that Bangladesh used ARSA as a scapegoat to divert attention from the real masterminds. They argue that blaming ARSA helps Bangladesh justify further crackdowns in the camps while hiding the possible involvement of powerful political and economic figures.

Who Benefited Most from Mohibullah’s Death?

The biggest beneficiaries of Mohibullah’s assassination were not the Rohingya people, but those who profit from the ongoing refugee crisis. His death ensured that efforts for repatriation would weaken, keeping the flow of international aid intact.

Some Rohingya claim that Bangladesh acts as a middleman for regional powers like India, Myanmar, and China. They suspect that Bangladesh works with these countries to suppress Rohingya activism while maintaining a financial and strategic advantage from the refugee situation.

A Political Assassination?

Many Rohingya believe that Mohibullah’s murder was not just an act of violence but a political assassination. His growing influence on the global stage may have made him a target for those who wanted to silence calls for Rohingya repatriation.

If Bangladesh truly had no involvement, why has there been no transparent and independent investigation into his death? Why do Rohingya activists continue to face threats and violence inside Bangladesh’s refugee camps?

Until these questions are answered, suspicions will remain, and the truth behind Mohibullah’s assassination will continue to be debated.