Teknaf, Bangladesh: Some Bangladeshi and Burmese nationals set out for Malaysia by boat, while a few others returned to Bangladesh, after the Burmese authorities pushed them back to their country, a traveler from Teknaf said.

On January 4, a motor-boat with 60 people on board including Rohingyas and Bengalis left for Malaysia and Thailand from Sonar Para of Cox's Bazar district at night. They took a pair of clothes and some dry rations such as Sera (glutin rice flakes) and molasses. The boat was led by Dulal from Teknaf of Bangladesh, according to Kamal (20) and Hussain (18), who are also waiting to go to Malaysia by boat. The broker took Kyat 20,000 per head to facilitate the journey.

On the same day, a motor-boat carrying about 97 people returned to Shapuri Dip of Bangladesh, at about 12:30 pm, after Burmese naval forces from Rangoon Division pushed them back. The Burmese authority provided the travelers with some ration and fuel, according to a person who returned from the Rangoon coast.

On December 15, the boat had left for Malaysia with 97 people from Bahar Sara of Cox's Bazar district taking dry ration such as--- rice, glutin rice flakes, molasses, biscuits and water--- to last for one week. However, the boat was apprehended by Burmese naval forces after 4 days at Kyaukpru, while on its way to Malaysia. The Burmese naval forces provided them with some fuel and water and asked them not to go to Malaysia and return to Bangladesh. However, the boat and its crew ignored the instructions and went ahead to Malaysia.

After two days, the motor-boat reached Rangoon coast and mistook it for the Thai coast. In fact, the leader of the boat did not know the exact route from Bangladesh to Thailand, so he anchored the boat on the Rangoon coast. Based on information, the Burmese naval forces came to see them. They provided them with food and medicines.

After having food, the people gave statements to the naval forces that they wished to go to Malaysia for work, and they did not have a compass or ration and the engine of the boat frequently gave trouble. After which, the Burmese Captain of the naval forces asked them to return to Bangladesh, unless they wanted to perish at sea. The Captain provided them one bag (50kgs) of rice, some edible oil, and dried fish, chilli, some medicines, some plates and a compass.

After one day and one night, they reached Irrawaddy Delta. There they met policemen, who asked about their situation. The police also provided them fuel and food and asked them to return to Bangladesh. They stayed there about 8 hours. Then, they reached Akyab (Sittwe) after two days. The travelers had shortage of fuel and bought some fuel from another boat, which was fishing at sea. After one day however, they reached Shapuri Dip, said Jani Alam, a passenger of the boat.

Some of the travelers were Rohingya refugees, some of them Rohingyas from Arakan State, while some others were Bangladeshi. However, none of them were arrested by the authority in Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, a boat with 60 people on board reached Phangnga in Thailand on January 2, and it was caught by the marine police of Thailand. They were brought to their camp for interrogations, said a source from Thai south.

When asked why he fled from Arakan State, a traveler said, "We have no jobs, we have restriction on movement, we have marriage restrictions and arbitrary arrest by concerned authorities under false and fabricated cases. They also subject us to extortion as well as torture." ##