Teknaf, Jan 05 (V7N) —A group of 36 Rohingya individuals, comprising men, women, and children, are now in the custody of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) after crossing the sea in a fishing boat and entering Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, through the Marine Drive area.
They entered via the Mundar Dail Ghat area of Sabrang on Sunday afternoon. The BGB has stated that the group will be sent back to Myanmar. The group includes five women, 10 children and 21 men. The BGB has said that they will be sent back to Myanmar.
Confirming the incident, Teknaf local Union Parishad member Md Selim said: “A trawler carrying 36 Rohingya, including women and children, entered through Munder Deilghat along the Marine Drive. They are now under BGB custody. Additionally, reports suggest another boat carrying Rohingya is floating near Baharchhara.”
Md Alam, 30, who had been adrift at sea for four days, said: “Our village is in the Nashang area east of Akyab. There, the Mog Baghi and Arakan Army are torturing Rohingya people. To save our lives, we left Myanmar on a wooden boat five days ago and attempted to enter Bangladesh. Our engine broke down, and another trawler towed us to shore and handed us over to the BGB.”
Another Rohingya, Zaher Alam, added: “There are five Muslim villages in our area. People are being forcibly taken for weapons training and used against the junta. Those who refuse to join the Mog Baghi group face severe torture. The Arakan Army is using Rohingya as tools. We felt it was better to die in Bangladesh than to stay and suffer there.”
Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Ehsan Uddin said: “We have heard about the Rohingya entering. Investigations are ongoing.”
Major Ishtiaq Ahmed of Teknaf-2 BGB said: “A total of 36 Rohingya entered via the sea route. They will be prevented from settling here.”
END/MSS/AJ/TKNF
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