Bangladesh border guards turn back 7 boats carrying Rohingyas

Border Guard Bangladesh has turned back seven boats carrying Rohingyas trying to crossing the Bangladesh border through the Naf River in Cox Bazar’s Teknaf Upazila.

The vessels were turned back from Kharankhali in Hoaikong and Dale Point in Wheeler Full on Monday morning, said BGB Teknaf-2 Battalion Deputy Commander Maj Md Abu Rasel Siddique.

He told bdnews24.com that the vessels had crossed the river border at two points. A BGB patrol had to push them back into Myanmar, he said.

Each boat had approximately 10 to 15 Rohingya passengers, totalling around 70, the BGB official said.

More than 60 other vessels have been barred from entry into Bangladesh since Dec 1, he said.

The Myanmar army has started a crackdown on the border state of Rakhine since nine Myanmar Border Police personnel were killed in attacks on three border security posts on Oct 9.

Many Rohingyas have attempted to flee the mayhem by crossing the border into Bangladesh.

The BGB turns away Rohingya vessels almost every day, but some vessels have still been able to sneak in.

Those Rohingyas who have managed to cross the border and seek refuge in Bangladesh have reported stories of murder, violence, rape and arson to the media.