Fire burns in the Rohingya refugee camp in Balukhali in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, March 5, 2023. REUTERS/RO YASSIN ABDUMONAB

Bangladesh investigates massive fire at Rohingya refugee camp

Authorities in Bangladesh are looking into what caused the massive fire in the Rohingya refugee camp in Balukhali in Cox's Bazar, which has left 12,000 people homeless. Rohingya refugee camp is considered the world's largest refugee camp, sheltering more than one million Rohingya refugees who fled due to the outbreak of violence in Myanmar. According to the report, the fire on Sunday (March 5) destroyed 2,000 shelters after it spread through gas cylinders in kitchens. There were no reported casualties in the incident; however, police are investigating if the fire was an act of sabotage. One man has been detained. The fire started on Sunday afternoon and quickly spread through the bamboo-and-tarpaulin shelters. At least 35 mosques and 21 refugee learning centers were burnt down. According to authorities, the refugee camps are prone to blazing fires due to extremely cramped conditions in flimsy, bamboo-and-tarpaulin shelters. In March 2021, a massive fire engulfed the camp killing at least 15 refugees and burning down 10,000 homes. RZSP/Expat Media
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