Border touts minting money

As the situation in Myanmar worsened recently and hundreds of Rohingya people are heading towards Bangladesh, opportunists in the Bangladesh-Myanmar border area in Cox's Bazar are making some quick bucks by helping them to cross the Naf river and settle here.

In connivance with fishermen and boatmen from both side of the Naf, these brokers are taking up to Tk 5,000 from each to be sheltered in Rohingya camps in Teknaf.

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“We have collected a list of brokers from different law enforcement agencies. We have sent the list to different police administrations to take necessary steps against the brokers,” said Md Ali Hossain, deputy commissioner of Cox's Bazar.

Moulvi Abdur Shaker and nine other Rohingya men, women and children fled Myanmar and took shelter in an unregistered Rohingya camp at Leda in Teknaf on Tuesday. He said they had to pay the boatman Tk 50,000 to cross the Naf.

Shaker, aged about 20, said he is a madrasa student from Jambunia in Maungdaw district of Myanmar.

After law enforcers tightened security along the border, these syndicates seem to be a little less active for the last two days.

Yet, desperate to flee persecution, these Myanmar nationals are still finding ways to cross into Bangladesh, even during daytime.

Rohingyas are Muslim minority in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, which revoked their citizenship through a law in 1982.

Md Shakir and Anwarul Islam from Kumirkhali village are among those who arrived yesterday through Techchi bridge point in Teknaf.

Ten days ago, Shakir first brought his mother, wife, children and and other family members to Jingakata village in Whykang area of Teknaf.

“I then went back to Myanmar to observe the situation. It's comparatively better now. But I came back as my son is sick,” he said.

Shakir was carrying a cell phone with a Robi number, with which he communicates with his family members in both countries.

Yesterday, Shakir and Awarul paid the boatman Tk 1,000 to cross the river. But when he brought his family members, Shakir had to pay Tk 3,000 for each.

The broker syndicates are based in at least 17 boat landing stations along the Naf, law enforcers said.

“Every syndicate has four to 10 members. They are taking money from the distressed Rohingya people and helping them to come to Bangladesh,” an officer told The Daily Star yesterday, preferring not to be named.

About 200 brokers are active in Teknaf and Ukhia, he added.

Other areas of their operation include Nayapara, Jaillaghata and Dokkhin Zadipura boat landing stations in Zadimura area; Hnila Ghat and Howangbro, Jhimangkhali, Unchyaprang and Lambabil.

Until a couple of days ago, they had been active in Dumdumia, Leda, Alikhali, Nat Murapara, Moulvibazar, Karangkhali, Kanjarpara, Ulubunia and Whykawng Purbo Para.

After coming to know about a syndicate member working around Leda camp, these correspondents requested a Rohingya man to call the broker and inquire about his charge for bringing in each Rohingya person.

According to the Rohingya man, the broker would charge Tk 10,000 per head.

“And he [the broker] would not make any deal if the group is smaller than 100,” said the Rohingya man.

These correspondents were present during the conversation.

With the help of such brokers, several thousand Rohingya people entered into Bangladesh over the last few days.

Nearly 4,500 of them came to Kutupalong unregistered Rohingya camp in the last six days, said Abu Siddique, president of the camp management committee.

 “Around 800 families came to our camp till today [yesterday],” said Abu, himself a Rohingya, who came to Bangladesh about 25 years ago.

Asked about the brokers, Abul Khayer, officer-in-charge of Ukhia Police Station, said the brokers went into hiding and police were looking for them.

“We've started a drive against them,” said Afjurul Haque Tutul, additional police superintendent of Cox's Bazar.

Six people have been arrested so far in this connection, he added.

BGB PRESS BRIEFING 

Briefing reporters about the latest, Border Guard Bangladesh Director General Maj Gen Abul Hossain said his force was put on alert to prevent entry of more Rohingya people. 

“We have already deployed additional BGB men on the borders,” he told the press conference at Maloncho Rest House in Teknaf.

“There is no barbed-wire fence along the 63km Bangladesh-Myanmar border on the Naf river, making it easy for the Rohingya people to cross into Bangladesh illegally,” he added.

Some areas along the border are impassable where BGB men cannot patrol. Some Rohingya people entered through these areas. Brokers in both countries are helping these people to enter into Bangladesh, he said. 

Also, many Rohingyas have their relatives in Bangladesh. So they too are helping their relatives in Myanmar to come to Bangladesh, added the BGB DG.