Rohingya infiltration a cause of worry

Several hundred Rohingyas enter Bangladesh

Several hundred Rohingyas have allegedly sneaked into Cox’s Bazar district following the recent persecution of them in Myanmar.
About 5,000 to 6,000 such people, including women and children, are still waiting to enter Bangladesh on boats on the Naf river on the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.
Talking to some Rohingyas who have entered Bangladesh, this correspondent found that those who managed to cross over to Bangladesh had to offer hefty amounts to touts who helped them find shelter.
One such Rohingya, Bashir Ahmed, who entered Bangladesh from the Mongdu area in Myanmar, said: “Rohingya Muslims are leaving Myanmar to escape persecution by the Myanmar government. I entered Bangladesh by paying Tk. 10,000 to touts.” A regional commander-level meeting was held yesterday between the Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) and the Border Guard Police (BGP) of Myanmar to discuss the situation along the border.
A 27-member BGB team, led by Brig. Gen. Farid Hasan of the BGB, and a 31-member BGP team, led by Brig. Gen. Tu San Lin of the BGP, held the meeting to discuss the Rohingya issue.
Hasan said the meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere and both sides agreed to extend all-out cooperation on the infiltration issue. They also agreed to resolve any problem in the border areas of the two countries amicably, he added.
After the meeting, Hasan told journalists that the situation on the Myanmar border was unstable. “The Myanmar government has launched an anti-terror operation. As a result, the Rohingyas are frightened and trying to enter Bangladesh. This operation would be completed soon there,” he said.

About the Rohingyas’ infiltration into Bangladesh, Hasan said, “We have asked the Myanmar Border Guard Police to be more alert and active as Rohingyas are desperately trying to cross over to Bangladesh.”
“Since Bangladesh shares a large stretch of its border with Myanmar, it is impossible to monitor every point. So, many Rohingyas are entering Bangladesh by evading the BGB, even though the guards are trying their best to prevent such infiltration,” he added.
Hasan said they had already arrested two touts. Police have also arrested at least 200 Rohingyas for sneaking into Bangladesh through Ukhia and Teknaf areas over the past 24 hours.
The BGB detained at least 62 Rohingyas from a hill in Ukhia area and another 150 had been detained from another hill in Teknaf. 
They had been kept in a hatchery. BGB sources said these people would be sent back to Myanmar at a convenient time. At least 40 boats loaded with Rohingya people have already been sent back to Myanmar, the sources added.
The recent attacks on the Rohingyas have sparked much criticism in the international arena. The Myanmar government has been asked to stop the persecution of the Rohingya Muslim minority.

Rohingya infiltration a cause of worry

Several hundred Rohingyas enter Bangladesh

Several hundred Rohingyas have allegedly sneaked into Coxs Bazar district following the recent persecution of them in Myanmar. About 5,000 to 6,000 such people, including women and children, are still waiting to enter Bangladesh on boats on the Naf river on the Bangladesh-Myanmar border. Talking to some Rohingyas who have entered Bangladesh, this correspondent found that those who managed to cross over to Bangladesh had to offer hefty amounts to touts who helped them find shelter. One such Rohingya, Bashir Ahmed, who entered Bangladesh from the Mongdu area in Myanmar, said: Rohingya Muslims are leaving Myanmar to escape persecution by the Myanmar government. I entered Bangladesh by paying Tk. 10,000 to touts. A regional commander-level meeting was held yesterday between the Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) and the Border Guard Police (BGP) of Myanmar to discuss the situation along the border. A 27-member BGB team, led by Brig. Gen. Farid Hasan of the BGB, and a 31-member BGP team, led by Brig. Gen. Tu San Lin of the BGP, held the meeting to discuss the Rohingya issue. Hasan said the meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere and both sides agreed to extend all-out cooperation on the infiltration issue. They also agreed to resolve any problem in the border areas of the two countries amicably, he added. After the meeting, Hasan told journalists that the situation on the Myanmarborder was unstable. The Myanmar governmenthas launched an anti-terror operation. As a result,the Rohingyas are frightened and trying to enter Bangladesh. This operation would be completed soon there, he said. About the Rohingyas infiltration into Bangladesh, Hasan said, We have asked the Myanmar Border Guard Police to be more alert and active as Rohingyas are desperately trying to cross over to Bangladesh. Since Bangladesh shares a large stretch of its border with Myanmar, it is impossible to monitor every point. So, many Rohingyas are entering Bangladesh by evading the BGB, even though the guards are trying their best to prevent such infiltration, he added. Hasan said they had already arrested two touts. Police have also arrested at least 200 Rohingyas for sneaking into Bangladesh through Ukhia and Teknaf areas over the past 24 hours. The BGB detained at least 62 Rohingyas from a hill in Ukhia area and another 150 had been detained from another hill in Teknaf. They had been kept in a hatchery. BGB sources said these people would be sent back to Myanmar at aconvenient time. At least 40 boats loaded with Rohingya people have already been sent back to Myanmar, the sources added. The recent attacks on the Rohingyas have sparked much criticism in the international arena. The Myanmar government has been asked to stop the persecution of the Rohingya Muslim minority.