Undocumented Rohingya refugees spread to other districts

The Rohingya refugees are traveling to other districts, including to Dhaka and Chittagong from border regions of Teknaf, as government and non-government organisations have yet to document detailed information about them. BGB-34 Battalion Commander in Cox's Bazar, Lt Col Manjurul Ahsan Khan confirmed the matter to the Dhaka Tribune. Thousands of undocumented Rohingya refugees, who escaped the violence in Myanmar, were seen gathering on the Teknaf-Cox’s Bazaar Highway since early hours of Sunday. They boarded public transports, such as buses and even trucks, to travel to other districts with their family members. Many Rohingya families carrying luggage were found waiting at the Teknaf bus stand. They were getting into any bus or truck that will take them away from the border region. The Dhaka Tribune interviewed some of the fleeing refugees, asking them about their plans for the future. Most said, they want to return to their homes in Myanmar when the situation becomes a bit stable. But right now survival is their only priority. No government or non-government organisation had documented information about the Rohingya refugees, some of them said. When asked about their destinations, some refugees said they will live with their relatives in Chittagong and in other districts. A significant number of refugees have expressed interest in heading towards Dhaka in search of a better life. They have heard that the capital is a land of opportunity. However, some of the refugees have no set destination in their mind, and they plan to go where the bus takes them. A 27-year old man named Muftiya, who fled the violence in Rakhine State, told the Dhaka Tribune, “We are waiting for any vehicle. I have my wife, my one-year-old daughter and ten more people from my village with me.” “I have a relative living in Banshkhali, and we are planning to go there. We will decide our next course of action after we get there,” he added. Under the current circumstances, the BGB and the local police have built numerous check-posts on highways, intended to stem the tide of Rohingya refugees from spreading to other districts. “Three check-posts have been built as yet, first one on Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar Link Road, second one in Ukhiya Bazar area, and the third one on Teknaf Road in Mithachhari area. A fourth check-post will be built on Marine Drive in Cox’s Bazar on Monday,” said Additional District Magistrate of Cox's Bazar Khaled Mahmud. Meanwhile, speaking on the issue, Relief And Disaster Management Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya said, the government will take an initiative to document information on Rohinga refugees. Police HQ AIG (media and public relations) Sahely Ferdous said all police stations and units were put on alert so that Rohingyas cannot leave Cox's Bazar and spread to other parts of the country.