18,000 Rohingyas enter Bangladesh so far: IOM
SHAMSUDDIN ILLIUS, from Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar
Publication Date: 31 August, 2017 00:00 00 AM
Media: The Independent
Original Link: Tale of miseries fills the air in no-mans’ land
E-paper Link: Tale of miseries fills the air in no-mans’ land
The number of hapless Rohingyas in the no-man’s land, on the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, keeps increasing with each passing day, as the Myanmarese security forces are setting fire to houses every day.
The Rohingyas, who have fled from Myanmar, are giving description of mass killings by the Myanmarese security forces and local Buddhists.
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said yesterday (Wednesday) that 18,000 Rohingyas have already entered Bangladesh.
It is alleged that the Myanmarese security forces are carrying out helicopter gunship attacks on Rohingyas. Helicopters are also seen patrolling over the border. From the Bangladesh side, smoke could be seen just across the border. Gunshots were heard early on Wednesday. At 9am, this correspondent saw from Whykong, of the Teknaf border point, smoke over the hills at two places of Myanmar.
Thousands of stateless Rohingyas have taken shelter at around 20 places of the no-man’s land. Hundreds of them are sneaking into Bangladesh by dodging the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) through at least 50 border points.
This correspondent met some of the Rohingyas at Ulobunia, of the Teknaf border point, at 12:30am on Wednesday. They have fled from Balukhali in Maungdaw. These people narrated how the Myanamarese security forces set fire to their houses, looted valuables and picked up male members.
There was no young male member among them. They included the aged, women and babies and children, from one-month-old to eight years.
“The military, along with local youths, set our houses on fire. They also looted all our belongings. We have been staying at the no-man’s land for three days as Bangladesh is not allowing us to enter. It is not possible for us to return home,” said Selim Ullah, 50, hailing from Nasidaung of Maungdaw. Joubayer, Nasima and others have the same story to tell.
They are suffering from a shortage of basic needs like food, water and shelter and there is no toilet.
After a fresh attack on 30 Myanmarese police outposts and an Army base that left 98 dead, including 12 members of the security forces and 86 Rohingya rebel fighters last Friday, Bangladesh has seen a fresh influx of Rohingyas. Despite strict vigil by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Rohingyas are managing enter the country.
Visiting different border points, it was seen that the Rohingyas are leading a sub-human life. Children and the elderly are the worst victims of the crisis. Children were seen crying for food and water.
However, some people were seen providing food to Rohingyas stuck on the no-man’s land. Md Harun, 30, a resident of Ghumdhum, said: “We are giving them food and water as best as we can.”
Hasina Begum, 60, hailing from Mirzapara of Maungdaw, has taken shelter on the Ghumdhum border. She said: “We are suffering immensely. We cannot return home as the military has set fire to our house. They have killed two of my grandsons. Here also we cannot stay under the open sky. There is no food, water and toilet.”
Moju Mia, hailing from Maungdaw said: “We cannot return as we fear for our lives. On the other hand, we are not being allowed to enter Bangladesh. We are stuck here. With my two daughters, three sons and wife we are suffering under the open sky.
In a press briefing at Cox’s Bazar yesterday (Wednesday), the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said 18,000 Rohingyas have already entered Bangladesh.
Shangjukta Sahani, Cox’s Bazar IOM chief, said: “Since the outbreak of violence in Myanmar on August 25, 18,000 Rohingyas have crossed into Bangladesh. We are providing them with life-saving assistance.”
Four Rohingyas drowned in the Naf river in Teknaf yesterday (Wednesday) after a boat, carrying migrants fleeing persecution in Myanmar, capsized.
The boat was trying to enter Bangladesh through Shah Porir Dwip at Teknaf upazila of the district, said Mohammad Main Uddin, OC of Teknaf police station.
“We have found four bodies. We are continuing our search for the missing,” he said, but could not ascertain the exact number.
