Publication Date: 30 November 2016
Media: The Independent
Media: The Independent
Original Link: Rohingya infiltration continues
E-paper Link: Rohingya infiltration continues
SHAMSUDDIN ILLIUS from Teknaf
There has been no let-up in the infiltration of Rohingya Muslims into Bangladesh as they are facing inhuman torture by troops in Myanmar.
Several hundred Rohingyas are crossing remote border points of Bangladesh everyday to avoid strict vigilance by border guards at the usual border points. They are suffering from a paucity of food and medicines. The local administration says they are giving humanitarian aid to the oppressed Rohingyas although the supplies are insufficient. They are waiting for the government to step in to resolve the crisis.
Cox’s Bazar deputy commissioner, Ali Hossain, told The Independent: “We’re giving humanitarian help to the Rohingyas who are crossing the border. They’re given fruits and medicines, but it’s not enough. Providing two fruits or five medicines isn’t adequate. We’ve informed the government about the gravity of the situation. The government has to decide quickly to avoid any crisis.”
The Rohingyas, who managed to flee to Bangladesh, said though the Bangladesh government has not received them formally as refugees, yet they are coming here as they hope that they would be safe in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh government has not treated them unfairly and no one has raped their women, they said.
At Whykong point of Teknaf, this correspondent found a group of 14 Rohingyas sneaking into Bangladesh crossing Naf river at 12:30am yesterday. They managed to land in Bangladesh after spending 17 days on the road.
The infiltration begins as dusk descends. In the group, the age of the youngest member is just 27 days. The baby is terribly hungry as mother Sakebur Nahar could arrange meals only four to five times in the past 17 days as they had to hide in the jungles after troops had burnt down their home. Her husband and elder daughter, aged one-and-a-half years, have gone missing after the blaze.
Six members are below 10 years in age while there are two elderly men, one elderly woman and two new mothers. The group depends only on 16-year-old Habibullah.
Crossing the river in darkness, they walked into a house. “It took about 10 minutes to cross the border. We had two more children and as the boat was small, we put them in another boat. But we don’t know what has happened to them,” said Habibullah.
“After our house was burnt down, we started our journey 17 days ago. The troops had beaten us mercilessly. We haven’t had food for many days. We had some fried rice and water and are just surviving. Over 2,000 people are waiting at Totardwip to cross the border,” said elderly Mohammad Younus and Nur Hossain.
They walked into a house of a local resident at Whykong. The house-owner arranged food for them. Around 2pm, they left for the unregistered Kutupalong Rohingya camp.
Even though the government is yet to take any decision on the Rohingyas, many local people have extended help to them on humanitarian grounds. Some locals have also offered them shelter.
30,000 waiting to cross border.
At least 30,000 Rohingyas have fled Rakhine state and taken shelter in the jungles at different points of Bangladesh-Myanmar border.
Several hundred Rohingyas are crossing remote border points of Bangladesh everyday to avoid strict vigilance by border guards at the usual border points. They are suffering from a paucity of food and medicines. The local administration says they are giving humanitarian aid to the oppressed Rohingyas although the supplies are insufficient. They are waiting for the government to step in to resolve the crisis.
Cox’s Bazar deputy commissioner, Ali Hossain, told The Independent: “We’re giving humanitarian help to the Rohingyas who are crossing the border. They’re given fruits and medicines, but it’s not enough. Providing two fruits or five medicines isn’t adequate. We’ve informed the government about the gravity of the situation. The government has to decide quickly to avoid any crisis.”
The Rohingyas, who managed to flee to Bangladesh, said though the Bangladesh government has not received them formally as refugees, yet they are coming here as they hope that they would be safe in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh government has not treated them unfairly and no one has raped their women, they said.
At Whykong point of Teknaf, this correspondent found a group of 14 Rohingyas sneaking into Bangladesh crossing Naf river at 12:30am yesterday. They managed to land in Bangladesh after spending 17 days on the road.
The infiltration begins as dusk descends. In the group, the age of the youngest member is just 27 days. The baby is terribly hungry as mother Sakebur Nahar could arrange meals only four to five times in the past 17 days as they had to hide in the jungles after troops had burnt down their home. Her husband and elder daughter, aged one-and-a-half years, have gone missing after the blaze.
Six members are below 10 years in age while there are two elderly men, one elderly woman and two new mothers. The group depends only on 16-year-old Habibullah.
Crossing the river in darkness, they walked into a house. “It took about 10 minutes to cross the border. We had two more children and as the boat was small, we put them in another boat. But we don’t know what has happened to them,” said Habibullah.
“After our house was burnt down, we started our journey 17 days ago. The troops had beaten us mercilessly. We haven’t had food for many days. We had some fried rice and water and are just surviving. Over 2,000 people are waiting at Totardwip to cross the border,” said elderly Mohammad Younus and Nur Hossain.
They walked into a house of a local resident at Whykong. The house-owner arranged food for them. Around 2pm, they left for the unregistered Kutupalong Rohingya camp.
Even though the government is yet to take any decision on the Rohingyas, many local people have extended help to them on humanitarian grounds. Some locals have also offered them shelter.
30,000 waiting to cross border.
At least 30,000 Rohingyas have fled Rakhine state and taken shelter in the jungles at different points of Bangladesh-Myanmar border.
