Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), police and coastguard arrested more than 58 people destined for a Malaysia bound boat during a joint operation around Teknaf from Aug. 17- 19, according to a local named Habib .
The BGB arrested 24 people from Gola Para in Shar Pour Dip. The alleged traffickers have been identified by a BGB officers as Hakhim Maji; son of late Abdul Gani, Ilias; son of late Sultan Ahmed, Md.Noor; son of Mohammed Ullah, Nur Hossain, Jiabul and Musa; son of the late Nazir Ahmed.
It was revealed during questioning that the traffickers were working for Nur Hakim Maji; son of late Abdul Gani and Aman Ullah; son of Abdul Karim from Shah Pour Dip, according to the officer. Passengers paid 20,000 Bangladeshi taka for the voyage to Malaysia, but were also expected to shell out an additional 150,000 taka to agents in Thailand and Malaysia, according to the confessions.
After Teknaf police received information they arrested some people in Saparan village. More were arrested at a hotel by Bangladesh Coastguard, according to a coastguard aide. A total of 58 people that were arrested are being detained at the Teknaf police station for further investigations. Police has opened cases against them, a police officer said.
Facing desperation and ongoing persecution in Burma, many Rohingya are seeing no other options but to pay smugglers to send them to Malaysia.
One youth who preferred not to be named summed up the level of desperation. The youth questioned why “in the rainy risky season” are “people fleeing to foreign countries”?
Photo: BGB arrest 24 people from Gola Para in Shar Pour Dip.
