Rohingya influx to Bangladesh
Over 1.5 lakh enter in two weeks
At least 400 killed in ongoing violence
SHAMSUDDIN ILLIUS, Ctg
Over 170,000 Rohingyas have fled to Bangladesh in last two weeks since violence erupted in Myanmar in August, exerting pressure on the scarce resources of aid agencies and communities already helping hundreds of thousands of refugees from previous outbreaks of violence in Myanmar.
The local sources said the influx of Rohingyas into Bangladesh fleeing violence in Rakhine state of Myanmar is continuing unabated.
Over 170,000 Rohingyas have entered Bangladesh since August 25. The number is increasing everyday, said Rajakhali union parishad chairman Jahangir Kabir Chowdhury.
Everyday, several thousand Rohingyas are entering through several border points of Ukhiya, Teknaf and Naikhonchhori of Coxs Bazar and Bandarban districts. Initially, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) had stood firm against the entry of Rohingyas into Bangladesh, but is now considering them on humanitarian grounds.
Coxs Bazar deputy commissioner Md Ali Hossen told The Independent, We are considering the Rohingyas on humanitarian grounds. That is why we did not bar the new arrivals from setting up makeshift camps at Ukhiya and Teknaf.
High-ranking official sources in the government, too, said Bangladesh was allowing those Rohingyas who fled Myanmar to enter the country on humanitarian grounds. That is why the vigil at the border has been relaxed to let Rohingyas enter.
Local public representative sources claimed over 1,72,000 refugees have entered. Some 30,000 Rohingyas entered through Ghumdhum border point, 12,000 through Balukhali, 11,000 through Palongkhali, 15,000 through Hnila, 35,000 through Jaliapalong, 42,000 through Sarbang and another 30,000 Rohingyas entered through Whykong since August 25, they claimed.
The new arrivals are gathering next to the roads and slinging tarpaulins over bamboo frames to construct shelters against the monsoon at different areas of Kutupalong,
Balukhali and Leda. With every passing day, the situation is worsening, and the Rohingyass sufferings are increasing. The local public representative said if the government does not prepare a list of the Rohingyas, it would be difficult to return the undocumented Rohingyas to their country in future, and the burden of refugees would become permanent.
Following an attack on 30 border outposts of the Myanmar Border Guard Police (BGP) and an Army base on August 25, 2017, Myanmars military started a crackdown against what they said were extremist terrorists in its clearance operations. Over 400 people, including 370 Rohingyaswhom they called insurgentswere killed, as were 13 security personnel, two government officials and 14 civilians. The Myanmar military made these disclosures on Thursday.
In the meantime, 54 Rohingyas died when their boats capsized while crossing the Naf. On the other hand, at no mans land of the two neighbouring countries, thousands of Rohingyas are waiting to enter Bangladesh. Along with the BGB, different aid agencies were seen providing them food, medicines and water.
On Saturday, the Myanmar government said 2,625 houses at Kotankauk, Myinlut and Kyikanpyin villages and two wards in Maungdaw were burned down in Rohingya-majority areas in Rakhine state. The authorities held the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) responsible for torching the houses. The Rohingyas who fled Myanmar in the wake of the recent violence gave accounts of torture, rape and arson at their houses by security forces along with local Buddhists.
Myanmar has denied citizenship to Rohingyas, calling them illegal migrants from Bangladesh. However, they have been living in Myanmar for many generations. About 500,000 Rohingyas are living at Coxs Bazar in Bangladesh after fleeing Myanmar since the early 1990s. The new arrivals are increasing the existing numbers.
Tension at border:
The Myanmar Border Police (BGP) again opened fire at the Bangladesh-Myanmar border on Sunday evening. They fired several rounds around 6:30pm, but no casualty was reported. Earlier, on August 25, the BGP opened fire twice on the fleeing Rohingyas at Tambroo border point. On August 27, they again fired on Jolpaitoli border point in Bangladesh twice.
On August 27 and 28 and September 1, Myanmar helicopters violated Bangladeshs airspace. The people living adjacent to the border panicked as a result.
However, the BGB said they are ready to face any kind of situation. Following the incident, they have deployed additional forces at the border.
On Sunday, Bangladesh lodged a strong protest with the Myanmar embassy in Dhaka as Myanmarese helicopters violated Bangladeshs airspace near Ukhia in Coxs Bazar.
In a diplomatic note sent to the Myanmar embassy in Dhaka on Sunday, the foreign ministry protested the repeated instances of violation of Bangladeshs airspace by a number of Myanmarese helicopters.
Local sources said when BGP gunshots were targeting Bangladesh near the Tambroo border point, a bullet hit the roof of the house of Abdul Karim Sowdagor of Tambrro village, sparking panic among the locals.
On August 28, when bullets purportedly hit the Tambro Government Primary School, the school was closed after panic spread among the students. After the incident, the people grew afraid. The shells of the bullets were recovered and handed over to the BGB, said the chairman of the local union parishad, Jahangir Aziz.
We have visited the spot. Locals recovered a bullet and handed over to us. The BGP often fires at the border. On Sunday, the troopers fired several rounds. We are on alert, said Lt. Col. Munzurul Hasan Khan, commander of the BGBs 34th battalion.
Over 100 Hindus killed:
In the recent clash, more than over 550 Hindus from Rakhine state fled to Bangladesh following the violence there. The security forces of Myanmar tortured and set ablaze the houses of Hindus along with those of the Rohingyas, alleged the Hindus who fled Myanmar. In the ensuing clashes, at least 100 Hindus were killed by security forces and local Buddhists.
Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council president Rana Dasgupta went to Kutupalong of Ukhiya in Coxs Bazar on Sunday. He talked to people who fled Myanmar during his visit.
He asserted: It is genocide. The Myanmar military is conducting genocide at Rakhine state. The country has to be brought to the dock for committing crimes against humanity. He also called upon the United Nations (UN) to form an International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) to put Myanmar in the dock. He distributed relief materials to 497 Hindus of 160 families who took shelter at Kutupalong of Ukhiya.
Dasgupta said the new refugees from Myanmar included more than 550 Hindus. A prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal, he also demanded a proper investigation by the United Nations into the latest situation in Rakhine.
The Hindus who fled Myanmar said 500 Hindus belonging to 70 families have been living at Chikonchharhi village in Maungdaw for several generations. In the recent crackdown, around 100 Hindus were killed by security forces, they alleged.
The councils Chittagong division leaders, Parimal Kanti Chowdhury, Tapas Horh, Dipankar Barua, and Priyatosh Sharma Chandan were present, among others.
Joyless Eid for 1.5 million Rohingyas:
Just seven days before the second religious festival of Muslims, Eid-ul-Azha, the deadly clashes erupted in Rakhine state of Myanmar, where the majority of Rohingya Muslims an ethnic minoritylives.
The clash killed over 400 people and more than 170,000 have been rendered homeless so far. Many are stuck under the open sky on the no mans land between Bangladesh and Myanmar.
Last year, I slaughtered a cow weighing over three maunds. This year I have nothing to celebrate during the Eid-ul-Azha. The military set my house on fire. I left my home leaving 12 cows, five goats and hens with my five children, wife and parents, said Md Selim, a 52-year-old fisherman who fled Nasidaung of Maungdaw.
Now I, along with my family members, are living under the open sky. Yet, we are performing the prayers of Eid-ul-Azha, said Selim.
Thousands of Rohingyas who fled to Bangladesh amid the ongoing clashes at Myanmar passed a joyless Eid, said Dr Joynal, a Rohingya leader.
I had taken shelter here in 2012, but we are in intense sorrow because of the ongoing crackdown in Myanmar. I have lost many of our relatives in the crackdown. At the same time, many Rohingya women have lost their husbands and sons. While crossing the border, many have lost their sons and daughters. As the Army set the houses ablaze, the Rohingyas fled to Bangladesh empty-handed to save their lives, added Joynal.
Many were stuck at no mans land. Many are passing their days under the open sky. They dont have a single penny to celebrate the Eid, said Joynal.
