Narinjara News, July 12, 2025

For having one kilo of methamphetamine in his possession, a young Rohingya Muslim refugee was given a life sentence and a fine of 50,000 Taka by a court in Bangladesh.

Md. Hamid, 19, the son of Hosan (deceased) and Mahmuda Khatun of the New Leda Muslim Refugee Camp in Cox's Bazar District's Teknath Township, is the inmate. The refugee camp is home to Muslims who fled northern Rakhine State.

On Tuesday, July 8, 2025, the Cox's Bazar High Court and Sessions Judge Munshi Abdul Majid issued the decision.

The verdict was confirmed by Mohammad Sirajul Islam, the lawyer who handled the case.

A group of Bangladesh Special Crime Suppression Unit (RAB) No. 15 stormed the Nayapara neighborhood of Teknaf Township, Nila, on May 8, 2021, at roughly 1:15 PM and detained Md. Hamid.

According to the Cox's Bazar News Agency, one kilogram of methamphetamine (ice), worth around 1.5 crore taka, was discovered in a shopping bag he was carrying during the arrest.

The accused, Md. Hamid, was charged by Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) No. 15 with violating the Narcotics Control Act at the Teknaf Police Station on the day of the incident.

His case number is 38, dated 08/05/2021. He was tried on September 9, 2022, in the Cox's Bazar District Sessions Court under GR Case No. 355/2021 (Teknaf) and ST Case No. 1310/2022. 

The case was scheduled for hearing on Tuesday following a review of the witnesses' testimonies, cross-examination of the defendant, presentation of evidence, reading of the chemical test report, and providing the defendant the chance to defend himself.

Cox's Bazar District Judge Munshi Abdul Lajjad sentenced him to life in prison and a Tk 50,000 fine under Section 10(c) of the Narcotics Control Act, 2018 and Section 36(1) of the Narcotics Control Act, 2018, on the day of the verdict. 

Md. Hamid has been imprisoned in Cox's Bazar.