changed security situation
Govt worried as illegal entry of Rohingyas continues
HUMAYUN KABIR BHUIYAN
The illegal entries of Myanmar nationals from Rakhine State, commonly known as Rohingyas, into Bangladesh cannot get stopped completely, causing worry for the government under the changed security situation, government officials told The Independent yesterday. Vigilance has been increased along the border lately resulting in a decrease of illegal entries, but it cannot not be stopped completely due to some factors including the issues related to porous border, lack of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel and logistical support, they said.
Some officials said that the trend of illegal entries remains unchanged and perhaps cannot be stopped completely. Yes, people try to come in small groups. We are doing our best with our available resources to prevent their entry at the border line, Lieutenant Colonel Imran Ullah Sarker, Commanding Officer of 17th Border Guard Battalion stationed in Coxs Bazar, told The Independent over telephone. To a question, he said that there are some porous areas along the 271 kilometres border with Myanmar where patrolling is very difficult.
It (illegal entries) is there. Perhaps, it cannot be completely stopped, he added. Col Sarker informed that his force has prevented illegal entries of 1,844 Myanmar nationals from January 1 this year till yesterday (August 23). Our BGB says that it is trying its best. But, it appears that the trend is as it was before the new government took office in Myanmar, said a senior foreign ministry official. We simply dont know who is coming. It is a threat to our national security particularly against the backdrop of the Gulshan attack on July 1, he said. The trend of illegal entries remains the same, said another foreign ministry official, adding that people coming from across the border engage in various illegal activities.
After that, he continued that they enter the refugee camps from where it gets very difficult to bring them out due to procedural issues.
Referring to the arrest of two RSO (Rohingya Solidarity Organisation) members on July 31, the official said that the presence of RSO people may impact the Bangladesh-Myanmar bilateral relationship, which is going through a transitional period following the assumption of office of the new government in Myanmar.
Local politics is also contributing to the problem, said another official, placing great emphasis on more vigilance along the border in coordination among all the law enforcing agencies and civil administration. Things have changed after July 1, therefore, it is important to ensure effective patrolling to stop illegal entries from across the border, he said. Meanwhile, the tenth meeting of the National Taskforce on Undocumented Myanmar Nationals was held yesterday with Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque in the chair.
The meeting discussed the issues related to humanitarian assistance provided by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the census on undocumented Myanmar nationals carried out by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) from May 2 to 14. An idea as to how many undocumented Myanmar nationals are residing in the country will be gotten in November, said a meeting source. The final report can be expected in January after it is made available to the prime minister, he said. About 32,000 registered Myanmar refugees are living in two camps in Coxs Bazar while it is estimated that two to five lakhs undocumented Myanmar nationals are living in different parts of the country.
