Teknaf, Bangladesh: The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) arrested 16 would be boat people at the Shapuri Dip jetty. They were boarding a vessel whose captain intended to transport them to Malaysia. At the time of the arrests, the captain was waiting for still more passengers expected to arrive by noon that day from Cox’s Bazar and Shapuri Dip. 7 of those arrested were Rohingya and the other 9 were Bangladeshi nationals, according to an official BGB statement.
The owner of the vessel was listed as one Ismail, son of Haji Salay from Barmaya Para in Shapuri Dip, a fisherman from Shapuri Dip told Kaladan.
Typically, such voyages to Malaysia are arranged by agents (dalals) with the understanding of local BGB officials and Coast Guard officers who have been brought into the mix, according to one local Shapuri Dip elder who declined to be identified.
“The best-known agents from Shapuri Dip are Dolu Hussain, Mozi Bullah, Monna, Shaker, Amin, Shobbir, Kana Jaffar, Kobira, Jaffar, Rejaul Karim, Nurul Alam, Rahim Ullah Younous, Nazir Ahmed Bulu, and Amin,” he said.
During the evening of November 18, police from Nonna Sara in Cox’s Bazar arrested three agents, including Nurul Islam and Belal, while they were helping nearly 40 people board a trawler. Those 40 fled as the police made their approach. Most of the intended passengers were Rohingya refugees, according a source inside the Cox’s Bazar police station.
This is a popular time for boats carrying those wanting to sail from Bangladesh as the seas are generally calm and such vessels, often small and rickety, have an easier time of it, said a trader from Shapuri Dip.
In a separate incident on November 19, 33 Rohingyas, who had been arrested at the Whaikong BGB checkpost, were deported back to Burma, according to a BGB official statement.
