Coronavirus: first Rohingya refugee dies in Bangladesh camps described as ‘ticking time bomb’

As many as 60,000 to 90,000 people inhabit each square kilometre in Cox’s Bazar camps, with families of up to a dozen sharing small shelters

The Rohingya, members of a mostly Muslim minority, fled a brutal military crackdown in Myanmar in 2017

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Residents shop for vegetables at the Kutupalong Rohingya refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Photo: AP

Published: 3:55pm, 3 Jun 2020Updated: 4:00pm, 3 Jun 2020

An elderly Rohingya refugee has become the first person to die from coronavirus in the world’s largest refugee settlement in Bangladesh, where there are fears the disease could spread fast due to overcrowding.

The 71-year-old man died on May 31 while undergoing treatment at an isolation centre at the camps where over 1 million Rohingya live, said Bimal Chakma, a senior official of the government’s Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commission.

“Today we got the confirmation that he tested positive for Covid-19,” he said.

Aid workers have long warned of a potential humanitarian disaster if there is a major outbreak at the camps in the Cox’s Bazar coastal district. The Rohingya, members of a mostly Muslim minority, fled a brutal military crackdown in Myanmar.

At least 29 Rohingya have tested positive for the virus so far since the first case was detected on May 14.

Officials said 339 tests have been conducted among Rohingya in the camps so far.

“We are living in fear about what we are going to do if there is a big outbreak,” Rohingya refugee Mohammed Rafiq said by phone.

Bangladesh has seen a spike in infections in recent weeks, with 52,445 confirmed cases and 709 deaths.