BGB turns back three boats, 106 Rohingyas

Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) has pushed back three boats and at least 106 Rohingya people from different border points of Cox’s Bazar.

The drives continued for around 24 hours since Thursday morning in which the Rohingyas were intercepted at Naf River, Ukhia Upazila of Cox’s Bazar and Naikkhongchharhi Upazila of Bandarban.

Taknaf-based BGB 2 Battalion’s Major Md Abu Russel Siddiqui said three boats, each carrying at least 10 Rohingyas, tried entering Bangladesh’s territorial water via Jombongkhali point.

“BGB patrol teams turned them back into Myanmar,” he told bdnews24.com.

Cox’s Bazar-based BGB 34 Battalion’s Commander Lt Col Imran Ullah Sarker said 76 Rohingyas were pushed back from Ukhia’s Balukhali, Anjuman Parha and Ghumdhum point of Naikkhongchharhi.

“They kept trying to sneak in from 7am Thursday until 7am Friday. There were 13 men, 24 women, and 39 children in the group,” said the BGB commander.

An army crackdown started on Rohingyas in the Rakhine state after nine police officers were killed by ‘insurgents’ on the border along Bangladesh on Oct 9.

Since then, the Muslim minority had been trying to take refuge inside Bangladesh by dodging the border guards. Many have reportedly already taken shelter inside the country.

Major Abu Russel said more than 507 boats carrying Rohingyas had been intercepted on the Naf River since Dec 1.

BGB had turned back 416 Rohingyas from different points of Ukhia since that day, said Commander Imran.