Teknaf, Bangladesh: 138 people have gone missing after a Malaysia-bound vessel capsized in the Bay of Bengal on the evening of November 23, according to an elder from Alaythankyaw, Maungdaw South. 17 others were rescued.
The tragedy occurred when the boat struck a rock between Saint Martin and Shapuri Dip Island on the of Burmese side in the Bay of Bengal.
A schoolteacher from Maungdaw claims that the Burmese Border Security force (Nasaka) and three locals working with it were complicit in the trafficking of these people. The teacher said that they boarded 155 Rohingyas (120 from Maungdaw and 35 from Buthidaung) after collecting a total of 300,000 kyats per head. Permission for the people to board was given by Major Kyaw Aung, the commander of Nasaka Area 7, according to an aide of the border force.
Kaladan was told the names of the local collaborators were: Abul Kalam, from Lamba Ghona, Moslim from Dawn Khali, and Yasin from Konna Para. They are believed to be in hiding at the Donkhali (Pa Yaunbang Gyi) Nasaka base because authorities from Maungdaw Town are investigating.
“The rescued 17 persons are being hidden by the Nasaka for fear that organization’s involvement in the trafficking of boat people would be exposed. In addition, the Nasaka is demanding money from the rescued 17 for them to be allowed to return home,” the Nasaka aide said
