“We only get one week permission to come here for treatment. But we only have five days, actually, as we lose two days traveling to Chittagong from Teknaf.”

“This week, we also lost one day more as the countrywide hartal (demonstration) called by the main opposition BNP and its key ally Jamaat-e-Islami to protest what they said were moves to scrap the constitutional provision of holding parliamentary elections under a non-partisan caretaker government.”

“I had to pay 1,000 kyats for extra to the Burmese border security force (Nasaka), plus 200 Taka at Teknaf land port as I can’t travel to Maungdaw,” said Hamida Begum, who came to Bangladesh for treatment of her diabetes.

“It is very difficult for Rohingya to come here for medical treatment. We need more money, and it takes a long time for the process to get a border pass. In Maungdaw, we don’t have facilities for treatment. So we are coming to here for treatment. In Chittagong, if there are any problems, we from northern Arakan face so many hardships to reach our homes on time.”

Every week, there are around fifty-to-one hundred patients coming to Chittagong for treatment. The doctors from Chittagong give us more facilities for treatment and faster processes, as doctors know that we only have a one-week period to stay here, said Kala Meah, a helper of patients.

“We have one hospital in Maungdaw, but we are not able to get treatment the same as members of the Rakhine community, and the doctors and hospital staff charge us 50,000 kyats for the first admission fee, and more money for further treatments. A patient needs around 500,000 kyats for operations or delivery cases.”

“The cost of all medicines and other equipment for the patients’ needs for treatment are the responsibility of each patient.”