Maungdaw, Arakan State: Burma’s border security force, (Nasaka) has stepped up toll collection from Rohingya people at the British period long old  Bridge Nasaka check-post, who go up and down from Maungdaw south villages to Maungdaw Town since July first week, said a local businessman on condition of anonymity.

The Nasaka check-post was set up near British period long old Bridge at the Khadir Bill (Nyaung Chaung) and Nolbanna (Pandawpyin) villages of Maungdaw Township. All villagers of Maungdaw south have to cross the bridge to go to Maungdaw Town. Every day hundreds of people cross the bridge to go to and from Maungdaw Town. The check-post is on the Maungdaw - Aley Than Kyaw road.  Nasaka gets a lot of money every day from the passengers.

Nasaka personnel from the check-post stop all passengers and collect toll. They collect Kyat 500 per head whether people have recommendation letters or not from the Village Peace and Development Council (VPDC) chairmen.

The Nasaka also collects Kyat 1,000 from motorcyclists wanting to cross the Nasaka check-post and take another 1,000 Kyat on their return. A motorcycle rider, who has a shop in Maungdaw town has to cross the check-post at least twice a day. So, he pays Kyat 2,000 per day, said a shopkeeper in Maungdaw market.

Besides, every day, five motorbikes are taken and kept as standby at the Nasaka check-post personnel for use whenever they need it. All the motorbike owners are Rohingya people and none are from and the non-Rohingya community.

The Nasaka personnel harass Rohingya passengers at the check-post. Sometimes, women are kept waiting at the check-post for a long time, said a local trader.

The view of British period long old Bridge near Khadir Bill (Nyaung Chaung) and Nolbanna (Pandawpyin) villages

A student from Maungdaw Town said,” Once I took a goat from my home in AleyThan Kyaw village to Maungdaw town where my grandmother lives. At the check-post, I was stopped and paid 1,000 Kyat for crossing the bridge. “

Some villages are not far from the town, but they have to cross the Nasaka check-post. However, even those villagers are not allowed to go to town without getting the VPDC chairmen’s permission and also have to pay at the check-post, said a local youth.

On the other hand, the areas near by bridge is a notorious place where every crime are going with help of bridge security personnel with other concerned security personnel of Maungdaw. The all notorious works are doing among the model (New settler) villagers who are living near the bridge as Natala (model) villagers.