Dhaka, 3 Dec, Abnews: Members of Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) sent back 2 more boats carrying Rohingyas from Mayanmar while crossing the Naf River on Saturday.
Cox’s Bazar-based BGB 2 Battalion’s deputy chief Major Abu Rasel Siddiqui said at least 20 Rohingyas on two boats tried to enter Bangladeshi waters early on Saturday through the Jadimura point on the Naf River.
BGB patrols on the river pushed them back to Myanmar, he said.
According to Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB), as many as 86 boats carrying Rohingyas from Myanmar have been sent back since November 21.
The military crackdown began after nine border police personnel were killed in attacks by ‘insurgents’ at three outposts on October 9.
Authorities have confirmed 86 deaths and said that 69 of them were suspected militants. Rights groups claim the number of deaths is much higher.
Myanmar has also rebuffed rights groups’ claims of rape, arson and killing of civilians.
Hundreds of Rohingyas are trying to cross the border into Bangladesh amid escalating violence, but the Myanmar government denies it.
The 1.1 million Rohingyas are seen as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh by many of the country’s majority Buddhists.
They are denied citizenship and face severe restrictions on their travel.
Up to 30,000 people are now estimated to be displaced and thousands more affected by the recent fighting, the UN has said.
ABN/Sat-2nd/Latif/Mustafiz/ML