- 8K entered again in last 45 days, locals say double
-UNHCR urges to provide shelter for new but BD rejected
Alarmingly, a new incident of Rohingyas infiltration is happening. Rohingyas have been infiltrating Bangladesh amid an escalation of clashes between the military and the rebel Arakan Army, originally in Myanmar's Arakan.
According to the government, the number of new infiltrators in the last one and a half months is more than eight thousand. However, local sources said that the number of Rohingyas who have newly entered in Bangladesh is twice of that. The number of Rohingyas in Bangladesh is now more than 12 lakh. Eight lakh Rohingyas entered in the next few months from September 2017.
However, the government said that Bangladesh is not in a position to shelter even one more Rohingya. However, due to the ongoing conflict in Myanmar, there is pressure from the international community that Bangladesh should provide shelter to the Rohingyas again. A big question is whether the new interim government formed by the student-mass uprising will be able to ignore international pressure or have to give shelter to the Rohingya.
Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus spoke about the Rohingyas in his speech at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 27. Mentioning that Bangladesh is facing social, economic and environmental damage for the Rohingyas, Dr. Yunus said that Bangladesh has been sheltering more than 1.2 million Rohingyas from Myanmar for humanitarian reasons for the past 7 years. As a result we are facing huge socio-economic-environmental losses. He said that this crisis caused by the internal problems of Myanmar has become a cause of both traditional and non-traditional security risks for Bangladesh and our region.
The Chief Adviser said, "We are committed to helping Rohingyas forcibly displaced from Myanmar to Bangladesh." We continue seeking adequate support from the international community to continue humanitarian assistance programs for the Rohingyas and to ensure their sustainable repatriation. He said it is equally important to ensure justice for the Rohingyas through the ongoing trial process at the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court. The way for the Rohingyas to return to their homeland Rakhine with adequate security and rights needs to be eased. Dr. Yunus said, considering the constantly changing situation in Myanmar, Bangladesh is ready to work together with the international community to create an environment for the dignified and sustainable repatriation of Rohingyas to their country.
However, despite these efforts of the government, Rohingya infiltration continues. It is known that a class of brokers is assisting them in their infiltration in exchange of money. According to locals, 15,000 to 20,000 Rohingyas have crossed into Bangladesh through various border points in Teknaf in Cox's Bazar, Ukhia and Naikshyongchari in Bandarban. However, according to Teknaf upazila administration, this number is eight to nine thousand. Fighting between the armed insurgent group Arakan Army (AA) and the country's government forces has intensified in Myanmar's Rakhine city of Maungdoo, border residents say.
Rohingyas lives are again threatened in this fight around Mangdu Township. Fearing for their lives, Rohingyas have been entering Bangladesh in droves from Mangdu and surrounding areas for the past one month. Thousands more Rohingyas have gathered across the border in the hope of even infiltrating. Allegations have been raised that currently most of the Rohingyas are infiltrating through the Teknaf border. The Rohingyas are crossing the Naf river in wooden boats and entering Teknaf with the help of brokers. After that they are entering various Rohingya camps in Teknaf and Ukhia. Many people are also taking shelter in various houses in Teknaf. Locals are worried about Rohingya infiltration once again amid strict surveillance of the administration along with BGB and Coast Guard at the border.
President of Cox's Bazar Rohingya Prevention Committee and General Secretary of Citizens for Good Governance (Sujan) Cox's Bazar, Mahbubur Rahman said that the burden of 12 lakh Rohingya is already suffocating for us, in this situation, new Rohingya infiltration is a severe concern. Locals feel that they will have to face a more difficult situation in the future if the government does not take a strict stand to prevent infiltration. It should be noted that after August 25, 2017, at least 800,000 Rohingyas sought refuge in Bangladesh after being persecuted by the Myanmar army. Myanmar's junta government has not repatriated anyone in seven years. Recently, the process of repatriation of Rohingya started under the mediation of China, but it stopped due to the war situation in Rakhine. Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain said that Rohingyas cannot be given shelter again.
He said reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently that the United Nations Refugee Agency had requested Bangladesh to provide shelter to the new arrivals, which the government had firmly rejected. The adviser said, "We have made it clear to UNHCR that it is not possible for us to shelter more Rohingyas." It is known that in this situation, BGB has increased security and patrolling on the border of Bangladesh and Myanmar. Additional forces have been deployed.
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