Rohingya influx triggers concern

BGB on alert to prevent entry: Kamal

People of Cox’s Bazar fear that any influx of Rohingyas from across the border will have a negative impact on the region. Fresh Rohingya arrivals will aggravate the law and order situation, as it had happened earlier with the coming of those now living in the district, they told The Independent. At a time when the United Nations (UN) is urging Bangladesh to open its border to Rohingyas suffering renewed attacks, the country’s civil society has demanded a solution to the problem by repatriating the present refugees to Myanmar.
Although there is no exact figure of Rohingyas currently in Bangladesh, about five lakh unregistered Rohingya refugees are believed to be living in Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban and other parts of the country. Principal Hamidul Haque, convener of the Sangram Parishad that opposes Rohingya infiltration and demands the repatriation of the members of the Ukhia Refugee Camp, blamed the Rohingya people for the district’s deteriorating law and order. “If more Rohingya people come into Bangladesh due to a recent spate of attacks on them in Myanmar, it would have a negative impact on the district’s socioeconomic and law and order situations,” he added.
Didarul Alam Rashed, executive director of Nongor, a voluntary and social development organisation, said the Rohingya people had taken shelter in Cox’s Bazar whenever they were attacked in Myanmar, but were now proving to be a burden.
“If the border is opened, the law and order situation would deteriorate and the labour market would be seriously affected,” he claimed. Ali Hossain, deputy commissioner of the Cox’s Bazar, told The Independent camps housing Rohingya refugees were now under greater surveillance. Besides, the law enforcers were alert to the possibility of Rohingya infiltration following the recent attack on them in Myanmar.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has said the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the Bangladesh Coast Guard have been alerted at the Bangladesh-Myanmar border to prevent illegal entry of Rohingya people from Myanmar to Bangladesh.
“Rohingya infiltration is an uncomfortable issue for Bangladesh. We don’t want illegal Rohingya migration,” he told reporters emerging from a meeting on cabinet committee of prevention of smuggling and trafficking held at the home ministry yesterday. “Our borders forces BGB and the Bangladesh Coast Guard are maintaining surveillance at the border points of Bangladesh and Myanmar,” he said. The home minister also informed that they are going to install scanning machines at the land ports with advanced monitoring system to catch smuggled goods. “A total of 9,862 people including 1,488 accused criminals were arrested during 308,000 drives against smuggling during the first six months of the year,” Kamal informed. During the drives, the law enforcement agencies seized goods worth Tk 1,261 crore, he added.

Rohingya influx triggers concern

BGB on alert to prevent entry: Kamal

People of Coxs Bazar fear that any influx of Rohingyas from across the border will have a negative impact on the region. Fresh Rohingya arrivals will aggravate the law and order situation, as it had happened earlier with the coming of those now living in the district, they told The Independent. At a time when the United Nations (UN) is urging Bangladesh to open its border to Rohingyas suffering renewed attacks, the countrys civil society has demanded a solution to the problem by repatriating the present refugees to Myanmar. Although there is no exact figure of Rohingyas currently in Bangladesh, about five lakh unregistered Rohingya refugees are believed to be living in Coxs Bazar, Bandarban and other parts of the country. Principal Hamidul Haque, convener of the Sangram Parishad that opposes Rohingya infiltration and demands the repatriation of the members of the Ukhia Refugee Camp, blamed the Rohingya people for the districts deteriorating law and order. If more Rohingya people come into Bangladesh due to a recent spate of attacks on them in Myanmar, it would have a negative impact on the districts socioeconomic and law and order situations, he added. Didarul Alam Rashed, executive director of Nongor, a voluntary and social development organisation, said the Rohingya people had taken shelter in Coxs Bazar whenever they were attacked in Myanmar, but were now proving to be a burden. If the border is opened, the law and order situation would deteriorate and the labour market would be seriously affected, he claimed. Ali Hossain, deputy commissioner of the Coxs Bazar, told The Independent camps housing Rohingya refugees were now under greater surveillance. Besides, the law enforcers were alert to the possibility of Rohingya infiltration following the recent attack on them in Myanmar. Meanwhile, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has said the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the Bangladesh Coast Guard have been alerted at the Bangladesh-Myanmar border to prevent illegal entry of Rohingya people from Myanmar to Bangladesh. Rohingya infiltration is an uncomfortable issue for Bangladesh. We dont want illegal Rohingya migration, he told reporters emerging from a meeting on cabinet committee of prevention of smuggling and trafficking held at the home ministry yesterday. Our borders forces BGB and the Bangladesh Coast Guard are maintaining surveillance at the border points of Bangladesh and Myanmar, he said. The home minister also informed that they are going to install scanning machines at the land ports with advanced monitoring system to catch smuggled goods. A total of 9,862 people including 1,488 accused criminals were arrested during 308,000 drives against smuggling during the first six months of the year, Kamal informed. During the drives, the law enforcement agencies seized goods worth Tk 1,261 crore, he added.