“This cross-river ferry providing a link between the Maungdaw (Burma) and Teknaf (Bangladesh) carries a large number of passengers daily. The ferry owners charge Kyat 4,500 per head to cross the Naff River. This money is so high for the passengers.”

“There is no rule and regulation to carry out the ferry service as the owners are Nasaka (Burma’s border security force) and army agents.”

“Hla Shwe, son of retired police personnel Eliyas, hailed from Ward No.1 of Maungdaw, the agent of Sa-Ka-Kha (Army Battalion)-15 of Buthidaung Township, and Noor Ahmed (alias) Hla Myint, son of Hosha Monshi, hailed from the same ward, the agent of Nasaka.”

A small ferry boat with over load passengers is running from Maungdaw to Tekaf, and Teknaf to Maungdaw daily in the evening which will be met incident in the river anytime, said a local elder from Maungdaw Town.

“The two agents are supporting by the authority where they get every year as an agent for the Maungdaw-Teknaf ferry boat where the authority get money from the agent system. The two agents also doing for their benefit, pushing the people in risk where local passengers cannot dare to say anything against them.”

The passengers (from Maungdaw to Teknaf) have to cross the Naff River at about 4:00 to 5:00 pm and reached to Bangladesh side after sun set. Therefore, the passengers have been facing many difficulties in Bangladesh side such as--- waiting for bus or taxi to reach their destinations because of night, delays for hours at a time are resulting in huge backlogs in traffic, and have to fear of hijackers, etc. The hardships of passengers are enduring must also be taken seriously into account, said trader from Maungdaw north.

“The ferry owners do not run their ferry service in the morning for passengers who had passport (Border trade pass) for seven days as there is another ferry-boats service of one day passport(Border trade pass) from Maungdaw to Teknaf in the morning which will give few passengers. So, the two agents scheduled two boats in the morning and evening for their benefit. It is the secret of the agents and concerned authority.”

“If the weather condition is bad at night, the passengers will face many problems at night.”

“After reaching the ferry boat at Bangladesh side after sun set, in return, it will ferry other passengers who want to go back to Burma from Bangladesh or old passengers who spent 7- day in Bangladesh.”

Burmese government gives seven days permission (Border trade pass) to the passengers from Maungdae trade association for business. The Rohingya community used (Border trade pass) for medical treatment as there is no way for them to check up and treatment of health in northern Arakan, using huge money to pay the trade Association with understanding.

“After passing seven days in Bangladesh, the passengers have to reach at Maungdaw. The return ferry boat will reach at about 9 to 10 pm. at Maungdaw. In raining season or bad weather situation, the boatmay capsized in the Naf River. Earlier, there are many evidences that the ferry boats capsized in the river and many passengers died and missing.”
The local people who are traveling on this route want to form a committee to monitor and ensure easier movement of ferries by concerned authority, said a local schoolteacher from the locality.

“Besides, the local people or passengers ask the concerned authority to fix rate lower than existing rate and to give order the boat owners to ferry passengers in the morning time for the security of the passengers.”