Cox's Bazaar , Bangladesh : A Burmese refugee, who was arrested by the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) from the Bangladesh-Burma border in 2005, died yesterday at around 1 p.m. in Cox's Bazar prison, according to a friend of the deceased.

The victim has been identified as Bo Min Zan (46), son of Ba Sein. He hailed from Htan Pyin village of Pann Taung Gyi village tract under the Ann Township of Arakan State. He is survived by his wife and daughter. He was a recognized refugee of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Dhaka .

He had crossed the Burma- Bangladesh border in 1991and got refugee status in 2003. He was arrested in1984 in Arakan state and jailed.  However, he escaped from jail in 1988, while the democratic uprising took place across the country, according to a relative in Cox's Bazar. 

After getting refugee status, he had been living with his family at Shunar Para (village) of Bandarban district of Bangladesh. He was working in the border areas, supporting his family members and had no connection with political parties.  However, he was arrested by the BDR in 2005, on allegations of possessing ammunition. He was brought to Cox's Bazaar police station and later imprisoned.

Yesterday, about 20 Rakhines led by Khine Mryat Kyaw took part in a demonstration in front of the Dhaka UNHCR office and demanded the body be handed over to them until it was buried, according to our correspondent.  

Similarly, at about 1:30 p.m, 12 Rakhines including four monks demonstrated in front of the UNHCR office of Cox's Bazaar and demanded money from the UNHCR for the funeral. The UNHCR promised to give Taka 50,000 but later today the international body gave only Taka 15,000 for the funeral, another relative from Cox's Bazaar said.

The body was brought to Chittagong from Cox's Bazaar, at about 1 p.m. from where it would be taken to the UNHCR office in Dhaka . Meetings were held in Cox's Bazaar and Dhaka regarding whether the body should be taken to Dhaka or not.