Teknaf: The Bangladesh Rifles, (BDR) the country’s border security force is on high alert along the border close to the western Burmese province of Arakan to prevent an exodus of Rohingya, said a source close to Bangladeshi authorities.
“One thousand odd Rohingya Muslims from Burma entered Bangladeshi territory through many porous border points recently. So Bangladeshi authorities have put BDR on high alert to prevent fresh intrusion,” the source said.
Most of the people coming into Bangladesh are Muslims from Taungbro Sub Township, in northern Maungdaw. They were reportedly evicted from their homes by the Burmese Army authorities for building a fence on the border on the Burma side, local sources said.
The BDR on Wednesday arrested 49 Rohingya intruders in Teknaf, opposite the Burmese town Maungdaw. They were arrested while they were entering Bangladesh from Arakan state after crossing the Naff River in boats, another border source said.
Major Helal from the Tekan BDR headquarters told local news agencies that the arrested Rohingya would be pushed back to Burma soon.
An eyewitness in Teknaf said, many BDR personnel are patrolling several places in Teknaf Township including bus terminals, jetties and markets to prevent Rohingya exodus.
In Bangladesh, there are two Burmese Muslim refugee camps where over 20,000 Rohingya refugees live.
According to refugee sources, many Rohingya came to Bangladesh recently and are staying illegally outside two refugee camps without any help from international organizations or the Bangladesh government.
