Another 4.5 lakh Rohingyas waiting to infiltrate Bangladesh
More than 450,000 Rohingyas are reportedly in Maungdaw across Bangladesh's Teknaf border. Hundreds of people smugglers in the border region are offering to bring them to Bangladesh in exchange for money.
To counter this threat authorities including the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Coast Guard have heightened patrols along the Naf River to deter illegal infiltration attempts. The Rohingyas are said to be located in various areas such as Nalbunia, Perangpur, Nurullapara, Azizer Beel, Kadir Beel, Megichong, Mangala, Fadongcha, and Hasurata along the Teknaf and Naf rivers.
Recent efforts by BGB and Coast Guard patrols have successfully prevented Rohingya entry through specific points such as Tumbru, Ghumdhum, Rahmater Beel in Ukhiya, Whykong, and Kherankkhali in Teknaf over the past two weeks. However, this increased vigilance has redirected the attention of people smugglers to the 54-kilometer-long Naf River.
In addition to preventing Rohingya infiltration, authorities now face the challenge of dealing with these smugglers. BGB and Coast Guard patrols in the Naf River have been bolstered to address this concern.
HM Lutful Lahil Majid, Coast Guard Station Commander of Teknaf, emphasized that Rohingyas are attempting to enter Bangladesh through the Naf River border, prompting heightened vigilance to thwart people smugglers. Fishermen have been warned against involvement in such illicit activities.
Notably, in 2017, there was a significant influx of Rohingyas through Anjuman Para in Ukhiya and the Naf River in Teknaf, facilitated by organized smugglers using fishing boats and trawlers. However, fishing in the Naf River was halted in February of the current year to prevent Rohingya infiltration, coinciding with the suspension of tourist ship movements from Teknaf to Saint Martin.
Bangladesh currently hosts more than 1.2 million forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals in Cox's Bazar and the Bhasan Char island, most of whom arrived following a brutal military crackdown in August 2017. The country has been urging the global community to take effective steps to address and resolve the Rohingya crisis.
.png "Advertisement")
