Teknaf, Jan 06, (V7N) - A group of 36 Rohingyas, including men, women, and children, has infiltrated Bangladesh through the sea by a fishing boat. The group entered Bangladesh on Sunday (January 5) around noon through the Mundardeil Ghat area in the Subrang region of Teknaf.
 
According to the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), the infiltrators are currently in BGB custody and will be sent back to Myanmar. The group includes five women, ten children, and twenty-one men.
 
Local UP member Mohammad Selim stated that the group of 36 Rohingyas entered Bangladesh via a fishing boat at the Mundardeil Ghat on Marine Drive. They are now under BGB custody. Additionally, it is reported that another fishing boat filled with Rohingyas is floating in the sea near the Baharchara Ghat.
 
Dous Mohammad (30), a Rohingya who had been floating at sea for four days, explained that they were from the Naichang area in Eastern Akyab, Myanmar. He said, "The Arakan Army is torturing the Rohingyas there. To escape, we tried to cross into Bangladesh with a wooden fishing boat five days ago. However, our engine broke down, and we were rescued by a trawler and handed over to the BGB."
 
Another Rohingya, Jahid Alam, from the same area, added, "Our area has five Muslim villages. The Arakan Army forcibly recruits people from these villages for military training and forces them to fight against the Myanmar government. If you refuse to join, they torture you. The Arakan Army uses the Rohingyas for their battles, and it’s better to die in Bangladesh than in Myanmar. That’s why we decided to flee to Bangladesh."
 
Teknaf Upazila Executive Officer (UNO), Md. Ehsan Uddin, confirmed that they had received information about the Rohingya infiltration and are investigating the matter.
 
Major Ishtiaq Ahmed of Teknaf 2 BGB Battalion said, "36 Rohingyas have infiltrated via sea, and we will prevent further infiltration."

END/MSI/SMA/