The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has stepped up its vigilance along the border with Myanmar, particularly on the Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf road running along the Naf river, to prevent Rohingyas from crossing over to Bangladesh. The BGB has sent back 416 Rohingyas from November 15 till Tuesday. They included 18 boats carrying about 200 Rohingyas trying to infiltrate into Bangladesh through six points of the Naf river at Teknaf of Cox’s Bazar throughtout the night till morning, BGB and Coast Guard sources said yesterday.
Commanding officer of the Teknaf BGB, Lt. col Abu Zar Al Zahid, said most of the passengers were women and children. “We’ve increased vigilance along the border for the past few days with the help of other forces, including the Coast Guard, police and locals people,” he added.
Al Zahid also said that border guards had earlier sent back 24 boats carrying Rohingyas who tried to sneak into the country.
The Rohingya Muslims of Arakan state in Myanmar have been trying to escape the violence unleashed on them through different routes.
In several groups, they are trying to make their way into Bangladesh. Some have managed to escape the law enforcers and taken shelter in unregistered camps where their relatives stay, well-informed sources told The Independent.
However, the BGB strongly denied any such incident.    
Meanwhile, BGB sector commander (Cox’s Bazar) Col Anwarul Azim said no Rohingyas from Myanmar would be allowed to enter the country. “The Teknaf-Cox’s Bazar road is under special surveillance so that no Rohingyas could sneak into Bangladesh,” he added.
Meanwhile, principal Hamidul Huq Choudhury, convenor of the Ukhia Rohingya Refugee Infiltration Resistance and Repatriation Sangram Parishad, expressed concern over Rohingya infiltration. “It would worsen the law-and-order situation in the district,” he said.
Bangladesh is already facing a critical situation, with 600,000 Rohingyas taking shelter in the country on humanitarian grounds, he added.
Asif Munir, a rights and development activist working with Rohingyas, told The Independent: “Immediate steps must be taken to stop repression on Rohingyas in Myanmar. Global leaders must come forward for that.”