Background 24 Refugee Camp Security in Cox’s Bazar District Since 2017, the Bangladesh government instituted a process of “securitization” in the camps, which translated into confining Rohingya refugees to fenced-in and guarded camps and severely restricting their right to freedom of movement.48 In implementing its “securitization” plans, the government constructed watchtowers, installed video surveillance, and enclosed refugee camps with barbed-wire fencing.49 At the time of writing, barbed-wire fencing surrounds nearly the entire network of refugee camps, preventing most movement between different camps and confining most Rohingya to their individual camp.50 Although the Bangladesh government says the fencing is in response to security concerns, these measures have not improved the security of the Rohingya refugees in the camps nor have they decreased armed militant activity in the camps.51 Rather, Fortify Rights documented how the barbed-wire fencing led to preventable deaths when prevented Rohingya refugees from escaping deadly fires that broke out in the camps in March 2020.52 A Fortify Rights investigation also found Bangladesh’s Armed Police Battalion personnel­—security forces installed by the government as part of the securitization efforts—responsible for beatings, arbitrary detention, torture, and extortion of Rohingya refugees.53 48 Fortify Rights, “Bangladesh: Investigate Refugee-Beatings by Police, Lift Restrictions on Movement,” May 26, 2022, https://www.fortifyrights.org/bgd-inv-2022-05-26/; Fortify Rights, “Bangladesh: End Restrictions and Protect Rohingya Refugees,” December 20, 2021, https://www.fortifyrights.org/bgd-inv-2021-12-20/; Fortify Rights, “Bangladesh: Remove Fencing That Confines Rohingya to Refugee Camps,” October 9, 2020, https://www. fortifyrights.org/bgd-inv-2020-10-09-2/. 49 One Rohingya refugee told Fortify Rights: “I worry in the future if I leave the fenced area, I will be arrested.” See also, Fortify Rights, “Bangladesh: Remove Fencing That Confines Rohingya to Refugee Camps,” October 9, 2020, https:// www.fortifyrights.org/bgd-inv-2020-10-09-2/. 50 Fortify Rights communication with U.N. official, February 2023. See also, Fortify Rights, “Bangladesh: Remove Fencing, Support Fire-Affected Refugees,” May 5, 2021, https://www.fortifyrights.org/bgd-inv-2021-05-05/. 51 In September 2020, Mozammel Haque from the Home Ministry’s Law and Order Committee said: “To keep such crimes in check, the Rohingya camps will soon have fences around them, 24 towers, and an adequate number of CCTV cameras will be installed. … [T]heir activities will be monitored 24 hours a day.” “Bangladesh to Install 24/7 CCTV Cameras to Monitor Rohingya Camps,” Dhaka Tribune, September 8, 2020, https://archive.dhakatribune.com/ bangladesh/rohingya-crisis/2020/09/08/bangladesh-to-install-cctv-cameras-in-rohingya-camps-for-24-7monitoring. 52 Fortify Rights, “Bangladesh: Remove Fencing, Support Fire-Affected Refugees.” 53 Fortify Rights, Bangladesh: Ensure Accountability for Police Corruption, Torture of Rohingya Refugees, August 10, 2023, https://www.fortifyrights.org/bgd-inv-2023-08-10/.