Undocumented Myanmar nationals from bordering Rakhine state, commonly known as Rohingyas, have continued to enter into Bangladesh despite heightened vigilance, creating worry for the government under the changed security situation.
The National Taskforce on Undocumented Myanmar Nationals discussed the issue in its tenth meeting on Tuesday and stressed the need for improved coordination between the civil administration, law enforcing agencies, the BGB, intelligence agencies and local government bodies in the bordering areas adjacent to Myanmar.
Increased vigilance slowed down somewhat the illegal entry of Rohingyas, but could not completely stop it because of the porous border, thin presence of Border Guard Bangladesh and support from locally influential people inside bordering areas in Bandarban and Cox’s Bazar districts, officials said.
The BGB officials say that they are trying to stop the infiltration, an official said, but it appears that the trend is as it was before the new government took office in Myanmar.
‘No one knows who is coming from the other side of the border,’ the official said, adding, ‘it is a threat to national security, particularly against the backdrop of Gulshan café attack on July 1.’
The meeting was told that many people coming from across the border were found engaged in some criminal activities.
After taking part in some criminal escapades, they take shelter in the refugee camps installed for Rohingyas from where it becomes very difficult to bring them to book due to procedural issues, an official said.
Local politics, smuggling of goods and human trafficking, were also contributing to the problem, officials said.
Referring to the arrest of two RSO (Rohingya Solidarity Organisation) members on July 31, the official said that the presence of RSO people might have an adverse impact on the Bangladesh-Myanmar bilateral relationship, which is going through a transitional period following the assumption of office of the new government led by Aung San Suu Ki in Myanmar.
Foreign secretary Shahidul Haque, who visited Myanmar as prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s special envoy, presided over the meeting. Representatives from different government authorities, including the local civil administration, the BGB, intelligence agencies, International Organisation for Migration, were present, among others, in the meeting.
About 32,000 registered Myanmar refugees have been living in two camps in Cox’s Bazar for over three and half decades while it is estimated three to five lakhs undocumented Myanmar nationals have entered Bangladesh over the decades.
Source: New Age