Teknaf, Bangladesh: Unofficial refugees of Leda camp or Tal face restrictions by local people to go to the mountains to collect firewood, said a refugee Quila Meah.

When the refugees go to the mountain to collect firewood, the local people of Ali Khali village under the Teknaf union hide in the forests to catch them. The local people snatch away knives and firewood after beating them up.

On November 12, a group of refugees including men, women and boys went to the mountain to collect firewood, but they were beaten up by local people, while they were going. Of them, two elderly refugees were severely beaten up by the locals.

The victims were identified as Quila Meah (50), son of Abdu Sattar, Block-B Shed No. 119 and Hazara Khatun (40), daughter of Oli Ahmed, Block B, and Shed No.150 of Leda camp.

A refugee Hussain said "If he can't go to the mountain for a day, he and his family will starve as he earns Taka 70 to 80 daily after selling firewood."

In Leda camp, most of the refugees are firewood collectors. They have no jobs to survive and do not get any support from any quarter, said another refugee