Arakan News Agency | Exclusive
A boat carrying 20 Rohingyas, including women and a child, fleeing from Arakan state has landed on Saint Martin’s Island in Bangladesh due to rough sea conditions, according to reports received on Friday.
The engine-powered boat arrived at the northern shore of the island around 11 a.m. “We were informed of the incident in the morning through local representatives. The District Commissioner has been notified, and relevant law enforcement agencies are now handling the situation,” the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Teknaf stated.
Foyezul Islam, the acting chairman of St. Martin’s Union Parishad, said that due to the rough sea, they took refuge on the island to save their lives, adding that as the weather improves, all 20 Rohingya will be sent back to Myanmar.
“Members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) arrived at the scene, arranged temporary shelter in hotel rooms, and with support from the Union Parishad, provided breakfast and lunch for the group. For now, the Rohingya are under the custody of the BGB,” he continued.
He added that the ongoing conflict between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army (AA) is forcing Rohingya to flee from Arakan state.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), nearly 150,000 new Rohingya refugees have entered Bangladesh in the past 18 months due to the resurgence of fighting in Arakan.
Currently, local Rohingya from Buthidaung township are fleeing daily into Bangladesh, unable to endure the oppression and abuse inflicted by the AA. Meanwhile, in Maungdaw Township, ongoing arrests of Rohingya have led to growing fear within the community. As the situation intensifies, entire Rohingya villages are reportedly preparing to escape to Bangladesh.
