Cox’s Bazaar, Bangladesh: Bangladesh authorities imposed tight security in Rohingya refugee camps in the country on August 8, said a refugee from Nayapara, the UNHCR official camp.
“In the morning, the camp was surrounded by Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and police and the camp authority told the refugees that no one can go out from the camp without a valid reason,” said the refugee.
When asked, people in the other UNHCR camp in Kutupalong also said that there was tight security around the unregistered camp by the police and BDR.
“There are more than 50 policemen stationed around the camp and no one is allowed to go out,” said a refugee woman from the Kutupalong unregistered camp.
The Lada unregistered camp, which is running under the supervision of the Islamic Relief Worldwide with the cooperation of the EU, it was learnt that the camp was also under tight security by the police and BDR.
“Most refugee committee members were called by the Kutupalong Camp in-Charge (CIC) and asked about the ‘Meet the Press’ programme in the Cox’s Bazaar. The committee members were kept in the office till midnight,” said a member of a committee.
“We have to report to the CIC office every day at 5pm,” said the member.
A Rohingya organization, the Rohingya League for Democracy (Burma) RLDB, called all the Rohingya community in Bangladesh including those in the refugee camps to join a human chain campaign in front of Cox’s Bazaar Press Club to protest against the Bangladesh authorities regarding pushing back of the Rohingya, who are entering Bangladesh illegally for safety of their lives and to observe the 21st anniversary 88 uprising, according to their press release.
“I would like to express my deepest sadness about the killing of the Rohingya by Burmese border security force (Nasaka). They were arrested and pushed back from Naikongchari Upazila of Bandarban District and other parts of Burma-Bangladesh border line,” Ko Ko Lin , a members of RLDB said.
“The influx of Rohingya is to escape the persecution and the lawless behaviour of the ruling military in Northern Arakan. Their arrival in Bangladesh is neither for permanent settlement nor for seeking a job here so can’t they be termed as illegal immigrants. Rohingya must return to their homeland in Arakan, but they need a safe place till they feel secure for their life and properties in Burma,” he added.
“The Rohingya are the worst sufferers in the world under the Burmese fascist regime. According to the Universal Human Rights Declaration, the Rohingya are eligible to the necessary protection and other humanitarian assistance in any member state of the United Nation, where the ignorance of the concerned UN agencies has left the burden alone on Bangladesh. Both the Rohingya and the people of Bangladesh are facing many problems which have become a headache for the authorities in Bangladesh at all levels,” he added.
“The arrest and push back of the Rohingya into Burma is not a solution, but stopping abuse of Rohingya in Burma will resolve and prevent the exodus from their homeland,” the statement said.
The concerned authorities from Cox’s Bazaar broke up the human chain in front of Cox’s Bazaar Press Club. No one was arrested.
Following this the authorities of refugee camps and other concerned authorities imposed tight security in both registered and unregistered camps and didn’t allow refugees to go out and stopped them from joining the human chain outside Cox’s Bazaar Press Club.
“I saw many police personnel and plain clothes security men in front of Press Club, who drove out the people from the place and questioned them. But, no one was arrested,” said a participant.
