Bangladesh brings back 159 migrants rescued by Myanmar from the seas

Bangladesh has brought back another 159 illegal Bangladeshi migrants rescued by Myanmar navy from their seas.

Cox’s Bazar correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 10 August 2015, 12:52 PM
Updated : 10 August 2015, 12:52 PM

BGB’s Cox’s Bazar battalion Commander Col Md Rabiul Islam said they were brought back on Monday after a flag meeting with Myanmar’s immigration and national registry department at the zero point of the Ghumdum border of Naikkhyangchharhi Upazila.

Islam led Bangladesh’s 10-strong representatives panel including district administrators, police and immigration personnel to the meeting.

He added there are 16 children amongst the migrants who hail from various parts of Bangladesh including Narsinghdi, Chittagong, Habiganj, Kishoreganj and Narayanganj.

Cox’s Bazar’s Additional Superintendent of Police Tofail Ahmed said the migrants were brought to Cox’s Bazar Cultural Centre from Ghumdum on six buses.

“They would be questioned after immigration and then sent home using assistance of IOM and Red Crescent.”

He added they would be sending the 16 children to court for a call on what to do about them.

The lot of migrants were to be brought back on July 30 but the process was halted due to the low on Bay of Bengal. Following consultations, the new date set was Aug 5. But the flood in Myanmar after Cyclone Komen caused yet another delay.

The Myanmarese authority has claimed to have rescued 208 Bangladeshis on May 21 and 727 on May 29. Bangladesh has brought back 342 of them in three spells.