Human Rights and National Security are correlated. More human rights guarantees better national security. Relatively, violation of human rights poses a threat to the national security.

I have observed through nearly five years of work experience in Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh how the sexual and gender-based violence, abduction, arbitrary arrests and detentions by the law enforcement agencies, killing, beating, physical and/or verbal abuse by an authority, missing, disappearance, threat of violence, physical attack of a serious nature, extortion including for rent, lack of freedom and other violation of human rights of Rohingya refugees are posing a threat to the national security of the country.

Among many examples of the violation of human rights in Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh, the existence of contemporary forms of slavery is often overlooked. It is particularly relevant to the existing Majhi system. Inattention to the point by the humanitarian agencies has further exaggerated the conditions.

Majhis are a group of Rohingya leaders who are selected by the Camp-in-Charge (CiC). The CiC controls the Rohingya community through Majhis who work for the CiC office. If considered carefully, it is evident that some elements of contemporary forms of slavery are apparent in the existing Majhi system in some of the camps. For example, in some camps, Majhis are under the complete control of their respective CiC, as if they are their property.

In those camps, Majhis have no choice but to listen to the CiCs even if it goes against their community interests. Otherwise, they have to face serious consequences. Several Majhis, former and current, have reported that in some cases, their lives are at risk if they do not listen to the CiCs, members of law enforcement agencies or other government authorities working in the camps. Some of them believe that the denial of the orders from government officials might lead them to be convenient victims of crossfire by the security forces, in extreme cases. Moreover, they are always at risk of being victims of retaliation by the criminal groups whose information they gave to the security forces.

There are huge allegations against the Majhis as well. Sometimes, they indulge in corruption and fraudulent practices when dealing with humanitarian works. In many cases, they are also taking part in the violation of human rights of their own community when exercising their power to the community, or, being self-motivated, getting involved in the mediation process for protection cases.

Other examples of human rights violation in the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh include but are not limited to the right to life, and the right to freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and some refugee rights as mentioned in the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, such as, right to engage in agriculture, industry and commerce (Art. 18), and right of freedom of movements (Art. 26).

A considerable number of the violation of human rights of Rohingya refugees is frequently reported across the camps with many resulting from a range of aggravating factors including the lack of socioeconomic opportunities in the camps, differences in customs and beliefs, inter and intra-community conflict, expansion of activities by organized criminal gangs, and limited or complex access to justice through formal legal system.

I have further observed that these violations of human rights in the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh put Rohingya refugees in extremely vulnerable conditions and force them to resort to serious crimes and to collaborate with various armed and criminal groups, as well as traffickers and smugglers for the sake of survival. In this way, the violation of human rights of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh promotes non-traditional security threats to the country, such as human trafficking, smuggling and other serious crimes.

National security, therefore, is linked to human rights. Since there is a correlation between human rights and national security, States should not violate human rights of its people on the grounds of national security; rather, States should leave no stones unturned to ensure the full human rights of its inhabitants, especially, human rights of refugees, migrants and other displaced people in order to better protect its national security.