Cox’s Bazaar, Bangladesh: Bangladeshi authorities pushed back over 80 Arakanese Rohingyas to Burma in a week along the Bangladesh-Burma border and Chittagong Hill Tracts.  

On 4 October, four Arakanese Rohingyas were arrested from Baish Ari village of Naikhong Chari upazila under the Bandarban district. They were pushed back to Burma from Sacc Dalar point, said a local Hamid.

On 5 October, 18 Arakanese Rohingyas were arrested from Alikadam in Bandarban district of Chittagong Hill Tracts, said Jaker from the area.  

Similarly, on 7 October, 21 Arakanese Rohingyas, including two women were arrested by police from Kaistoli in Bandarban district. They were produced in court for illegally entering Bangladesh and then sent to Bandarban jail, said a local.  

On 9 October, 17 Arakanese Rohingyas were arrested by the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR)  from Asat Toli Para of Nakhonchari upazila in Bandarban District, and later pushed back to Burma, according to BDR sources.

On 13 October, in the morning, 12 Arakanese Rohingyas including two children and four women were arrested by police from Panbazar and Alikadam. The police also raided Balagata area in Bandarban district and arrested six more Rohingyas. They were handed over to the BDR of Naikhonchari and bushed back to Burma from Sacc Dalar border point, sources said.  

The police did not arrest all the family members, but they preferred to arrest the male members of the family. As a result, a father left his other family members or a mother left hers. The operation was conducted by police in collaboration with local Awami-league (AL) leaders. The reason for the operation is not known to the public, said a local from Alikadam.  

The same day, in the morning, nine Arakanese Rohingyas from Shapuri Dip including five women and another four Rohingas from Leda were arrested by BDR. At about 11 am they were pushed back to Burma from Shapuri Dip, said Habib from Shapuri Dip.

On 14 October 10 Arakanese Rohingas were also arrested from Alikadam and pushed back to Burma through the Naikhonchari BDR from Saac Dalar border point. The arrestees have been living at Alikadan under the Bandarban district for over 10 years, said another local from Alikadam.  

Today, the BDR started to check passengers at Dum Dum Meah, Whykong and Mricha check-points on the Cox’s Bazaar-Teknaf Highway.  They checked National Identity Cards on buses and cars. Those able to show their ID cards were allowed to pass and those who failed were released after warning.  But, the refugees were sent to refugee camps by bus guarded by the BDR, according to Kalam, a member of the unregistered refugee committee of Kutupalong.