findings iII: Justice and corruption
45
The police interviewed corroborated this and also added further clarification, stating that the amount
of money an APBn officer can expect to make by extorting Rohingya varies based on officer rank:
“If a corrupt constable takes money from a Rohingya [person], he can earn 200 to 500 BDT (2-5 USD) per day,” said
Hossain (pseudonym), an APBn officer. “Rohingya people reported to me that the police take 20, 30, or 50 BDT
(.20-.50 USD) from them to bring their consumption or materials inside the camps. If a Sub Inspector (SI, mid-level
police officer) tries to extort money, he can earn more than a constable because his level is higher than a constable. I
think he can earn about 1,000 to 2,000 BDT (9-19 USD). If an Officer in Charge tries to extort, he can make more
than a Sub Inspector. I’m not exactly sure of the amount, but I’m estimating it through information I received.” 76
APBn officers confirmed that the Rohingya are extorted by police on a regular basis
for crossing checkpoints, bringing items into the camps, running shops, driving vehicles, and otherwise bypassing any of the other camp restrictions in place.
“I’m not denying that we don’t take money at all,” said Hossain
(pseudonym), an APBn officer. “Such extortion issues happen,
I think. All the officers are not good, and it doesn’t mean that
all the officers are bad. There might be some police officers who
are torturing Rohingya. For example, the officers will take some
goods of Rohingya, and they will ask for money to return the
“I have not taken money directly from
the Rohingya. Sometimes my colleagues
take money from them, and they give
me some of it, or we spend that money
on snacks and coffee costs.”
goods. They also take money when any Rohingya try to bring something (goods, materials, furniture, etc.) inside the
camp. I have received some reporting messages on extortion issues. I also heard that the officers take money from
Rohingya by giving excuses after checking them. . . I have not taken money directly from the Rohingya. Sometimes my
colleagues take money from them, and they give me some of it, or we spend that money on snacks and coffee costs.” 77
76
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Interview P01
Interview P01