BGB increases raids in border areas to curb Malaysia sea voyagers

Teknaf, Bangladesh: Since the accident of December 14, a series of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) raids in Burma-Bangladesh border---Teknaf and Shapuri Dip---and have prevented a number of boats from illegally setting sail, said a local trader from Shapuri Dip.

According to police, dozens of wooden boats overloaded with Rohingyas and Bangladeshi migrants, have attempted to go to Thailand or Malaysia since October after the monsoon came to an end.

On December 14, a boat carrying 110 boatpeople - mostly Rohingya community - capsized in the Bay of Bengal, some of them died and some were missing.

Bangladesh authorities have deployed secret agents along the border to see any move by traffickers to get sea voyagers into the boats to attempt the risky journey to Malaysia, said an aide of BGB from Teknaf.

“However, many boats have avoided Bangladesh authorities and went to Thailand and Malaysia.”

There are over 28,000 registered refugees, who live in two official Nayapara and Kutupalong UN camps. But, there are about 200,000 to 300,000 "unofficial" refugees, according to government official.

Refugees, by utter frustration in the un-official camps, mostly they try to attempt the boat trip to Thailand or Malaysia. “We have no food, no education, and no health and even we have no security in the camp,” said a refugee preferring to be named said. 

“The risky sea journey is better than the unpleasantness and starvation in the refugee camps in Bangladesh. Refugees know that the trip is like a suicide. But do we have any alternative?”

Bangladesh stopped an UN-managed program to help Rohingya refugees resettle in third countries last year.

“We went to Malaysia as we think that Malaysia is the best country for carving out a new life. The huge majority hopes to secure unregistered work as manual laborers on construction sites,” said another refugee leader.

“The boatpeople knew that their journey was risky such as--- the threat of capsize and drowning in the sea and the arrest of Thai authorities, if their boats go astray into Thai territorial waters. So, it is a big question that why do the Rohingyas go to Malaysia leaving their motherland?”

UN described that Rohingya community is one of the most persecuted minorities on earth.

Refugee abducted from unregistered camp

Ukhiya, Bangladesh: A refugee from Kutupalong makeshift camp was abducted by local youths yesterday at about 4:00 pm, said a refugee leader from the makeshift camp.

“The refugee prohibited the local youths who frequently enter the camp and disturb the refugees’ females and harassing refugees.”

Abul Kalam (45), the abducted refugee from Kutupalong makeshift camp, said a relative.

“Kalam was kept in a local area where severally beat up by the local youths and forcefully took a statement that included giving 5000 taka within two days.”   

If he fails to give 5000 taka, he will be abducted again, according to sources.

A refugee committee member told the Kaladapress, “We fled from Burma to Bangladesh for persecution, extortion, taxes, forced labor and etc. by Burmese authority. We are facing same problem in Bangladesh.”

“We live in small huts and miserable condition and working hard for our survival; we don’t disturb the local people. But, we don’t know why local youths harass us inside the camp and where is safe place for us.”

Similarly, Salim, a daily labor working in the Kutupalong local market, was beaten by local youths today with an allegation which said that he had beaten a local people in the forest last year and demanding money for compensation. Nobody – authorities and local elders – were interesting to involve in the event.