Massive fire ravages Rohingya camp in Ukhiya-

At least 500 shelters destroyed, nearly 3,000 left homeless

OUR CORRESPONDENT | Published: January 20, 2026 23:39:33

COX'S BAZAR, Jan 20: A devastating fire broke out on Tuesday at Rohingya Camp-16 in the Shafiullah Kata area of Palongkhali union under Ukhiya upazila in Cox's Bazar, destroying at least 500 shelters and leaving nearly 3,000 Rohingyas homeless.
The blaze erupted at around 3:00am and was brought under control by approximately 5:45am.
According to Riyaz Ullah, block head (Majhi) of D-Block and a Rohingya community leader, the fire originated in the kitchen of a resident named Mohammad Anis.
Anis reportedly left a gas stove on to heat water around 2:45am and fell asleep without turning it off.
The fire quickly spread from the shelter to the adjacent ones.
Riyaz said Camp-16 was home to around 34,000 Rohingyas.
The shelters, made primarily of bamboo and tarpaulin, were densely packed, allowing the fire to spread rapidly and take a severe turn within a short time.
Two mosques, 10 child learning centres, and a madrasa were also destroyed in the fire.
Although several Rohingyas sustained minor injuries while fleeing in panic, the camp authorities confirmed that no fatalities were reported.
Upon receiving a notification, two units of the Ukhiya Fire Service and Civil Defence rushed to the scene and began operations.
Rohingya volunteer groups, officials from the Camp-in-Charge (CiC) office, and representatives of the local administration also assisted in dousing the flame.
Ukhiya Fire Service Station Officer Dollar Tripura said, "Due to extreme congestion, fire service vehicles faced difficulties entering the camps."
"However, the prompt response by two units helped bring the fire under control. Had there been any further delay, the damage would have been much greater," he said.
He added that the risk of fires increased in Rohingya camps during the winter season, with cooking stoves, candles, and makeshift electrical connections being the primary causes in most cases.
Fire outbreaks are not uncommon in the Rohingya camps of Ukhiya and Teknaf.
Earlier, on December 26, a major fire at Camp-4 in Madhurchhara, Ukhiya, destroyed a hospital run by a non-governmental organisation.
On December 25, several shelters were gutted in a fire in the Kutupalong camp. Following the latest incident, the administration, the CiC office, and humanitarian agencies started compiling the list of affected families.
Initiatives were underway to provide temporary shelter, dry food, safe drinking water, blankets, and other emergency relief to those who lost their homes, camp sources said.
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