Teknaf, Bangladesh: A group of Malaysia voyager numbering in 156-person have returned back to the Ghat (port) of Shapuri Dip (Island), under Teknaf uparzila of Bangladesh on the mid night of October 21, due to bad weather condition, according to a voyager.
“The returnees Malaysia voyager, both Rohingya and Bangladeshi were going into hiding to evade arrest from the concerned authorities after arriving at Shapuri Dip.”
A local villager from Shapuri Dip, quoting one of the returnees named Abdul Khader, said, “They left from Shapuri Dip Ghat, Bangladesh on October 14, with a fishing trawler. After 4 days and 4 nights, the fishing trawler was driven in the sea and took shelter near a mountain of Burma while they received storm signal (October 18) in the sea.
“After the calm of storm in the sea, they returned back to Shapuri Dip, instead of going to Malasia continuously due to shortage ofration. When the weather is favorable, they will continue their journey to Malaysia by sea route.”
According to a friend of Malaysia sea voyager, the Dalal (agent) of the boat-people, took Taka 3,000 from each of the passenger before getting on the boat and must to pay Taka 100,000 after arrival at Malaysia.
“Local people in border areas are angry with local authorities because the boat-people will not able to go Malaysia by sea route, if the concerned authorities do not take bribes from the Dala or agent,” said a local elder from Shapuri Dip who denied to be named for the security reason.
