A major fire broke out at Rohingya refugee camps No. 24 and 25, located in the Leda and Alikhali areas of Hnila Union, Teknaf upazila, Cox’s Bazar, on the night of Sunday, 28 December. The incident resulted in extensive damage to shelters, leaving dozens of families homeless, though no casualties were reported.
Based on the sources, the fire at the Rohingya camps in Teknaf on Sunday night, 28 December, started between 9:50 pm and 11:00 pm. Channel I reported that the fire broke out around 9:50 pm in the Chhonkhola area between Camps 24 and 25 in Hnila Union. Local camp leaders, including those cited by Jagonews24 and Daily Inqilab, stated that the fire began at approximately 10:00 pm in Leda Camp-24. Prothom Alo and bdnews24 reported that the fire originated around 10:30–10:35 pm in the intermediate area between Leda and Alikhali camps. Meanwhile, Camp Majhi Aminul Islam, cited by Ittefaq and NTV, stated that the fire started at about 11:00 pm. [Prothom Alo; BDNews24; Ittefaq; NTV; Jaago News 24; Daily Inqilab]
The fire allegedly originated in Camp No. 24 under Hnila Union and quickly spread to surrounding areas, including Camp No. 25. Rohingya leader Kamal Hossain stated that the fire began in a Rohingya settlement in the Chhonkhola area of F-Block, from where it rapidly spread to nearby shelters. The incident primarily affected Leda Rohingya Refugee Camp, Camp-24, in Hnila Union, Teknaf Upazila, with the fire spreading to the area between Leda and Alikhali Camps (Camps 24–25). Specific blocks affected included F-Block, C(A)-Block, and reportedly E-Block, where shelters sustained significant damage. [NTV; Channel I]
The fire spread extremely quickly due to the high density of shelters and the widespread use of bamboo, tarpaulin, and polythene, which are highly flammable. Local residents said that within minutes the fire engulfed rows of shelters, causing panic throughout the camp. Camp resident Abul Fayez explained that the houses are built very close to one another, which allowed the flames to move rapidly from one shelter to the next. He added that the intensity of the fire was very high, making it difficult for residents to control it in the initial stages.
According to Camp Majhi Aminul Islam, the fire in Camp No. 24 was initially brought under control within about half an hour of breaking out, with residents assisting the Fire Service. Teknaf Fire Service Station Officer Jamin Mia confirmed that upon receiving the report, one unit immediately began operations, followed by two additional units, while Chairman Mohammad Alam stated that despite these efforts, more than 50 houses were burnt to ashes. Other sources, including bdnews24.com and Channel i, reported that the fire was under control after about two hours of joint firefighting efforts, and Prothom Alo noted that the fire was fully extinguished around 1:00 am on Monday, 29 December, following nearly three hours of work by four Fire Service units. [NTV; Prothom Alo; BDNews24; Channel I]
Image Source: bdnews24.com
Damage estimates from the fire at Leda and Alikhali Rohingya Camps vary across sources. Initial reports indicated that 20–25 shelters were destroyed, mainly in F-Block and C(A)-Block, while Camp-24 Majhi Aminul Islam stated that approximately 40 shelters were burnt before the fire was controlled. Other accounts, including statements by camp leaders Kamal Hossain and Mohammad Alam, reported at least 50 shelters destroyed, and some authorities described damage exceeding 50 shelters across the Leda–Alikhali area. Additionally, some official briefings cited 30–35 shelters and structures destroyed. All official sources confirmed that there were no deaths or injuries, though the loss of shelters, household belongings, and essential items left many families homeless and in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Authorities have stated that a final, comprehensive assessment of the damage will be conducted following detailed investigation [Prothom Alo; BDNews24; Ittefaq; NTV; Jaago News 24; Daily Inqilab; Channel I]
The cause of the fire remains unknown and under investigation, with authorities stating that no definitive conclusion has yet been reached. Sayed Md. Morshed Hossain, Deputy Assistant Director of the Cox’s Bazar Fire Service; Muhammad Kawsar Sikder, Commander of the 16 Armed Police Battalion (APBn); and Khanzada Shahriar Bin Mannan, Camp-in-Charge (CIC) under the RRRC, all confirmed that the cause has not yet been determined and is subject to ongoing investigation. At the same time, several preliminary assumptions have emerged from camp authorities and local leaders. Mohammad Alam, Chairman (Majhi) of Leda Camp, said that the fire may have originated from a household cooking stove (chula), while in a separate statement, it was said the fire may have been caused by an electrical short circuit, based on early observations. In another account cited by NTV, Mohammad Alam, speaking as a Rohingya leader, stated that preliminary information suggested the fire started from a mobile phone charger inside a shelter. Additionally, DBC News reported that the fire started at 9:50 pm and suggested that the fire may have been caused by a gas cylinder in Camp-24; however, this claim has not been officially verified. [Prothom Alo; BDNews24; Channel I; DBC News]
After about two hours of effort, the fire was brought under control, said Deputy Assistant Director of Cox’s Bazar Fire Service Station, Syed Md. Morshed Hossain. He said, “There were no casualties. The extent of damage will be determined after investigation.” The cause of the fire is being investigated. Commander of the 16th Armed Police Battalion (APBN), Additional DIG Muhammad Kawsar Sikder, said, “The fire occurred in the area between the Alikhali and Leda Rohingya camps. In this incident, more than fifty shelters in the camps were burnt.”
Describing the incident, President of the Leda Development Management Committee, Mohammad Alam, said a fire suddenly broke out in the camp at night, and around 50 houses were burnt. Due to the quick response of the Fire Service, the remaining houses were saved. He said, “The source of the fire is being investigated. Initially, it is suspected that the fire originated from an electrical short circuit.”
CIC of the Leda Camp under the Office of the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner, Khanjada Shahriar Bin Mannan, said, “Several houses in F-Block and C(A)-Block were burnt. Full details of the damage have not yet been collected.” [Prothom Alo; BDNews24; Channel I]
Image Source: Reuters
There have been multiple fire incidents in Rohingya refugee camps, causing extensive destruction and repeated displacement of an already vulnerable population. In March 2021, one of the deadliest blazes in Cox’s Bazar killed at least 15 refugees and destroyed more than 10,000 homes; this was followed by a major fire in January 2023 that razed over 2,000 shelters and more than 90 facilities, including hospitals and learning centers, leaving more than 12,000 refugees homeless. Another fire on 5 March 2023 broke out at Camp 11 (Balukhali) in Cox’s Bazar, destroying an unspecified number of shelters and displacing many families, though no casualties were reported. Most recently, on 7 January 2024, a large fire swept through Camp 5 of the Kutupalong refugee settlement, destroying around 800 shelters and rendering nearly 7,000 Rohingya refugees homeless, underscoring the recurrent and devastating nature of fires in the densely populated camps. More recently, on the night of 25 December and early morning of 26 December, two separate fire incidents at camps in Ukhiya (a registered refugee camp and Camp-4) burnt five structures, including a hospital, so the 28 December fire wasn’t the only one, and unless immediate measures are taken, it certainly won’t be the last. [Daily Bonik Barta; Reuters; Reuters; Reuters]
The Rohingya refugee camps are extremely overcrowded, and fires in such dense settlements have the potential to devastate thousands of lives, as past incidents have already demonstrated; even where fatalities are avoided, the traumatized population—already displaced by war and persecution—endures yet another episode of collective terror and loss. These recurrent incidents generate uncertainty and public confusion, particularly as questions persist over whether such fires are accidental or intentional, a concern compounded by the inability or unwillingness of relevant authorities to provide timely, transparent, and comprehensive information. The absence of a robust and institutionalized fire prevention and control mechanism further exacerbates vulnerability, especially given the well-documented seasonal increase in fire outbreaks during dry weather, which clearly necessitates sustained awareness and risk-reduction programs. This raises critical questions about whether such initiatives have been meaningfully attempted and whether the existing governance and humanitarian framework is capable of implementing them effectively. Enhancing educational exposure among the Rohingya community—specifically in fire safety, prevention, and first-response measures—is essential to reducing both the incidence and impact of such disasters, alongside the urgent need for clearly published, rapid, and publicly accessible reports that inform affected populations and stakeholders immediately following any fire-related event.
Verification Note: This report is based on publicly available news sources, official statements, and credible analyses as of December 2025. Information from unreliable, exaggerated, or unverified sources has been excluded to ensure accuracy and objectivity.
Ahsan Tajwar is a Security and Strategic Reporting Fellow at the Bangladesh Defence Journal. His work focuses on law enforcement, transnational crime, organized trafficking networks, and cross-border security dynamics. He is currently pursuing a B.S.S. in Criminology and is involved with DUMUNA. His analysis relies heavily on an academic approach, with particular emphasis on their socio-cultural dimensions.