Middlemen help Rohingyas sneak into Bangladesh

Even as the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), police and local administration have stepped up vigilance along the border, the infiltration of Rohingyas into Cox’s Bazar district continues with ample help from middlemen. It was found that middlemen are dodging law enforcement agencies and the local administration to help Rohingyas land in Cox’s Bazar. Law enforcement agencies yesterday conducted raids in different parts of Teknaf upazila and detained seven middlemen for helping Rohingyas to enter Cox’s Bazar. A mobile court sentendced them to different jail terms. “Of the seven middlemen, three were given two months’ imprisonment each, while each of the four others was given four months’ jail,” said Shafiul Alam, upazila nirbahi officer of Teknaf upazila. Earlier, Ukhia police arrested two alleged middlemen and they were sentenced to jail terms by a mobile court. However, BGB sources yesterday said that the rate of infiltration had decreased. Commanding officer of the Teknaf BGB, Lt Col Abu Zar Al Zahid, said, “Rohingyas are finding it difficult to enter Bangladesh owing to strict vigilance along the border. We’ve intercepted eight boats carrying the Rohingyas. On Wednesday, 62 Rohingyas were detained at Ukhia, while over 100 Rohingyas, who were detained at Teknaf, were pushed back to Myanmar.”
When contacted, BGB Chittagong region commander Brig. Gen. Farid Hasan said, “The rate of infiltration has decreased following the meeting between the BGB and the BGP on Wednesday. The BGP is fully cooperating with us in our drive.” Meanwhile, BGB director general Abul Hossain yesterday visited Cox’s Bazaar and some border areas. As many as 252 Rohingya Muslims were sent back by the BGB, police and local administration from Wednesday to Thursday. At Ukhia border, the BGB sent back 74 Rohingyas, Ukhia police pushed back 62 Rohingyas, while 116 Rohingyas were sent back from Teknaf border by BGB personnel from Wednesday to Thursday morning.
Rohingyas usually use six border points of Teknaf upazila to sneak into Bangladesh. As the BGB has stepped up vigilance along the border, middlemen are now using new entry points for Rohingyas, sources said. After landing in Bangladesh, these people take shelter in registered or unregistered refugee camps in Teknaf and Ukhia. Over 6,000 Rohingyas infiltrated into the country till yesterday, the sources added. Over 100 Rohingyas took shelter in an unregistered camp at Kutubpalong of Ukhia till yesterday, according to the sources. A team of police conducted a drive at Kutubpalong unregistered camp on Tuesday, but they could not trace any new Rohingya as they mingled with those already staying there. Rohingyas are fleeing Myanmar following the military crackdown after a recent escalation of violence in Rakhine. They allege that the Myanmar army has been torturing them and even raping their women.

 

 

 

Middlemen help Rohingyas sneak into Bangladesh

Even as the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), police and local administration have stepped up vigilance along the border, the infiltration of Rohingyas into Coxs Bazar district continues with ample help from middlemen. It was found that middlemen are dodging law enforcement agencies and the local administration to help Rohingyas land in Coxs Bazar. Law enforcement agencies yesterday conducted raids in different parts of Teknaf upazila and detained seven middlemen for helping Rohingyas to enter Coxs Bazar. A mobile court sentendced them to different jail terms. Of the seven middlemen, three were given two months imprisonment each, while each of the four others was given four months jail, said Shafiul Alam, upazila nirbahi officer of Teknaf upazila. Earlier, Ukhia police arrested two alleged middlemen and they were sentenced to jail terms by a mobile court. However, BGB sources yesterday said that the rate of infiltration had decreased. Commanding officer of the Teknaf BGB, Lt Col Abu Zar Al Zahid, said, Rohingyas are finding it difficult to enter Bangladesh owing to strict vigilance along the border. Weve intercepted eight boats carrying the Rohingyas. On Wednesday, 62 Rohingyas were detained at Ukhia, while over 100 Rohingyas, who were detained at Teknaf, were pushed back to Myanmar. When contacted, BGB Chittagong region commander Brig. Gen. Farid Hasan said, The rate of infiltration has decreased following the meeting between the BGB and the BGP on Wednesday. The BGP is fully cooperating with us in our drive. Meanwhile, BGB director general Abul Hossain yesterday visited Coxs Bazaar and some border areas. As many as 252 Rohingya Muslims were sent back by the BGB, police and local administration from Wednesday to Thursday. At Ukhia border, the BGB sent back 74 Rohingyas, Ukhia police pushed back 62 Rohingyas, while 116 Rohingyas were sent back from Teknaf border by BGB personnel from Wednesday to Thursday morning. Rohingyas usually use six border points of Teknaf upazila to sneak into Bangladesh. As the BGB has stepped up vigilance along the border, middlemen are now using new entry points for Rohingyas, sources said. After landing in Bangladesh, these people take shelter in registered or unregistered refugee camps in Teknaf and Ukhia. Over 6,000 Rohingyas infiltrated into the country till yesterday, the sources added. Over 100 Rohingyas took shelter in an unregistered camp at Kutubpalong of Ukhia till yesterday, according to the sources. A team of police conducted a drive at Kutubpalong unregistered camp on Tuesday, but they could not trace any new Rohingya as they mingled with those already staying there. Rohingyas are fleeing Myanmar following the military crackdown after a recent escalation of violence in Rakhine. They allege that the Myanmar army has been torturing them and even raping their women.