Teknaf, Bangladesh: The Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) seized two Malaysia-bound trawlers on November 13 while the vessels were being prepared to put out to sea. The trawlers had planned to sail from nearby Shapuri Dip, carrying a large number of migrants, according to a fisherman from that town who declined to be named.
After receiving pertinent information, a BGB force led by Company Commander Shahab Uddin of the BGB Shapuri Dip outpost went to the spot and seized the trawlers along with some dried rations. The BGB also arrested a 10-year old boy while others, who had intended to board the vessels, escaped.
Sources claimed that some 100 people had come from Cox’s Bazar to make the long voyage but, sensing the arrival of BGB personnel, ran away.
Subsequently, the BGB handed over the trawlers to Teknaf customs officials and filed a case against the boat owners. “The two trawlers are worth an estimated 300,000 taka,” said a BGB official.
In another incident, police personnel from Bahar Sara seized a trawler and rescued 60 boatpeople on October 30.
Although the BGB, the coastguard and the police in the border area are trying to stop human trafficking from the Bay of Bengal, some traffickers still manage to send groups of people to Malaysia on small, unseaworthy boats, said a trader from Teknaf speaking privately.
