Father Accused of Killing Wife and Young Son

A Rohingya man has been accused of killing his wife and five-year-old son, while seriously injuring another child, following an alleged domestic dispute inside the Kutupalong Rohingya refugee camp in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar.

The incident occurred at approximately 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday night in Block B of Camp-6 at the Kutupalong refugee settlement, one of the world’s largest refugee camps. The suspect, identified as Ehsanul Haque, is alleged to have fled the area immediately after the attack and remains at large.

The victims have been identified as Shahida Noor, also known as Sufia, aged 30, and her younger son, Mohammad Shamim, aged five. Their elder son, 14-year-old Mohammad Afsar, also known as Bappi, sustained severe injuries during the assault and is currently receiving treatment at Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital.

According to Mohammad Hossain, a majhi—a community representative within the Kutupalong Rohingya camp—the violence was preceded by a heated argument between Ehsanul Haque and his wife over a family matter. The dispute reportedly escalated during the night, after which the accused allegedly attacked his wife and both sons with a sharp machete-like weapon.

Shahida Noor and her younger son died at the scene after suffering critical injuries. Local Rohingya residents rushed to assist the surviving teenager and transported him to the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) hospital operating within the camp. Owing to the seriousness of his condition, he was later referred to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital for advanced treatment.

Residents said the suspect escaped before law enforcement officers arrived, prompting an investigation and a search operation to locate him.

Confirming the incident, Officer-in-Charge Mujibur Rahman of Ukhiya Police Station said police recovered the bodies and sent them to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital for post-mortem examinations. He added that legal proceedings have been initiated and efforts are underway to arrest the accused.

The Kutupalong refugee camp, which shelters hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees who fled violence in neighbouring Myanmar, has witnessed a number of violent incidents in recent years, including murders, armed attacks and domestic disputes. Security agencies continue to face significant challenges in maintaining law and order across the densely populated camps.

Police are continuing their investigation to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident, while authorities are working to apprehend the suspect and determine the precise motive behind the fatal attack.