A prominent and high-profile leader of the Rohingya Muslim people has been shot dead by a group of unidentified gunmen inside a refugee camp in southern Bangladesh. The United Nations and local authorities had confirmed that Mohib Ullah was shot and killed in the refugee camp on Wednesday.

Mohib Ullah led one of the largest Rohingya Muslim groups in the world since the exodus of more than 730,000 people after the military takeover of Myanmar in 2017. As their leader, Mohib Ullah has been invited to several high-profile meetings, including those held in the White House and at the UN headquarters.

Mohib Ullah had been invited to speak at the UN Human Rights Council and he is known to be a strong advocate for the rights of the Rohingya - a Muslim minority group that has faced persecution for decades. He also leads the Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Human Rights, which made its name by documenting and making public the atrocities committed against the Rohingya people during the Myanmar crackdown.

The deputy police superintendent of the southeastern coastal town of Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh, Rafiqul Islam, confirmed that Mohib Ullah had been shot and killed. The official did not provide any other details about the incident.

Due to his and his group's work in fighting for the rights of the Rohingya Muslim people, Mohib Ullah had become the target of hardliners. He reportedly received death threats on a regular basis. In 2019, he said he was not afraid to die and he was willing to give his life for his people.

 

The large Rohingya camps in Bangladesh have become hotspots of violent crimes including kidnappings, rape, and murder. Armed groups inside the camps are continually vying for power with innocent women and children being caught in the crossfire.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees said it was "deeply saddened" by the murder of Mohib Ullah. The department said it was coordinating with local law enforcement authorities to ensure the peace and security of the refugee camps in Bangladesh.

Rohingya Muslim groups also expressed their dismay in the killing of one of their leaders. Aung Kyaw Moe, a Rohingya civil society activist, said his death was a "big loss" for the community.