findings iII: Justice and corruption 48 Leaving the camps in search of work is also very difficult because the bribe money needed to pass safely through checkpoints is often more than a Rohingya can expect to make in a day’s work. Many Rohingya respondents expressed that, although they desired to work, it was counterproductive to do so because they could not make a profit. “I am stopped at the checkpoint on my way back when I go to bring some supplies from outside the camp,” said Hamidullah, a 35-year-old Rohingya man. “They demand 700 BDT from me in order to let the goods into the camp, which I purchase for 500 BDT. I get 600 BDT after selling the goods; that means I have a loss of 100 BDT. How can I do business like that? How can I feed my family? How can I survive if that goes on?” 84 Moreover, because work is not possible, people have begun selling their food cards in order to afford the constant extortion. “Due to the extortion of the police, some people need to pawn their food cards to manage to pay the police, and they can’t even have food for that reason,” said Nasima, a 24-year-old Rohingya woman.85 One way Rohingya have found to circumvent police corruption has been to send food and money with their children, as children are scrutinised less intensely at checkpoints. However, this puts children at greater risk of violence if they are caught. Mistrust of Authority The rampant corruption that Rohingya experience has led to a deep-seated mistrust of authority, especially of the APBn. Specif- “Due to the extortion of the police, some people need to pawn their food cards to manage to pay the police, and they can’t even have food for that reason,” ically, bribes and extortion were frequently reported as reasons to mistrust any authority figure. There is also a general distrust of the Government of Bangladesh. Citing their poor living situation in the camps and the differential treatment they witness between themselves and Bangladeshi nationals, many respondents believed that the government has ordered the police to mistreat them, because, despite reporting police misconduct, nothing changes. “Whatever we are facing here is because of the government,” said Rabia, a 32-year-old Rohingya woman. “I think the government has ordered the police to torture us like this. We have reported many complaints against the police for torturing us unreasonably, but we haven’t gotten any response from anywhere.” 86 84 85 86 Interview C4EM Interview C18F Interview C1EF