Teknaf, Bangladesh: Fifteen more Rohingya boatpeople were arrested at Shahpuri Dip, Teknaf Upazila, at midnight on December 7, according to locals and Teknaf police.
The sources said police from Teknaf went to Shapuri Dip and arrested 15 boatpeople during a raid, after receiving a tip. However, 45 boatpeople and agents responsible for arranging transportation, who had gathered in the house of an agent named Bulu before their departure for Malaysia or Thailand, fled from the scene after sensing the presence of police.
Kaladan Press was told those arrested included Ibrahim (30), Shafiq (20), Sadek Hussain (20), Abdur Razzak (34), Abu Shama (17), Bashir Ahmed (40), Zahir Ahmed (25), Esuf (26), Saiful (20), Kamal Hossain (32), Kabir (23), Mohammad Ullah (45), Abdul Mazid (20), Rahim Ullah (22) and Dil Mohammad (32).
The Teknaf police also arrested 14 agents (Dalals) from Teknaf and Shapuri Dip on December 8th, who allegedly have been involved in human trafficking.
Some of the local Dalals are Mohamed Rofique, Ziaul Haque, Mike Yunus, Islam Shukur and Saida, according to a local from Shapuri Dip who declined to be identified.
Mahabul Haque, Officer in Charge (OC) of the Teknaf police station told Kaladan Press a case was filed in the Teknaf police station against those arrested, including the agents. The fifteen hail from different areas of Myanmar (Burma).
In addition, a powerboat carrying about 70 boatpeople departed for Malaysia from Lombori Ghat, Teknaf, in the Cox’s Bazar District, at about midnight on December 8th.
The boat was managed by two agents: Feroz, son of Ahamed and Nazir, son of Badsha Mea, from Lombir Para of Teknaf, according to a fisherman from Teknaf who refused to be named.
Another vessel carrying over 100 boatpeople will leave for Malaysia from Teknaf within 2 to 3 days, said a man from Shapuri Dip, who would not be identified.
Human trafficking of boatpeople to Malaysia was temporarily stopped from October to December, 2011, after operations by Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), police and Coast Guard.
However, locals said human trafficking has resumed.
The police, BGB (Border Guard Bangladesh) and the Coast Guard from Teknaf arrested 80 boat-people heading for Malaysia illegally in the last month, according to an aide from the Tekanf police station.
