Teknaf, Bangladesh: Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) officers have been placed alert to arrest Rohingyas who enter Bangladesh without travel documents and send them back to Burma, according to a border security force source.
“The alert was imposed after information spread out along the Burma-Bangladesh border that BGB personnel from outpost camps were taking 100 taka per head from those crossing illegally into Bangladesh,” according to the source.
The BGB arrested sixty two Rohingyas at different locations along the border from February 13 -15 after the alert went into effect, a local from Teknaf said.
Twenty Rohingyas were arrested at the Whykong checkpoint while traveling to Cox’s Bazar by bus.
The operation was led by BGB Company Commander Nurul Amin, of Whykong. Later, they were pushed back into Burma through the entry point at Lamba Bill, according to BGB sources.
Twenty three Rohingyas were also arrested by Shapuri Dip BGB personnel, while they were entering Bangladesh.
The Company Commander, Fool Meah, from Shapuri Dip BGB-out post, confirmed they were pushed back into Burma the same day.
Nineteen Rohingyas were arrested on February 13th at the Dum Dum Meah BGB checkpoint, while traveling on different buses from Teknaf to Cox’s Bazar. Twelve were male, three female and four were children; all were from different areas of northern Arakan State, Burma.
Sources also said most Rohingya people cross from Burma into Bangladesh for medical treatment and to visit their relatives who live in the refugee camps.
