A new influx of Rohingyas has come to Bangladesh to escape the ongoing conflict and torture in Rakhine State and other areas of Myanmar. About 80,000 more Rohingyas have entered Bangladesh in the past few months. The registration process of the United Nations International Refugee Organization (UNHCR) in Cox's Bazar has already been suspended to stop the influx of Rohingya. The members of the National Task Force on Rohingya Affairs are sitting in an emergency meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday to discuss what can be done to deal with this situation.
According to diplomatic sources, armed insurgent group of Arakan Army (AA) has taken control of the regional army headquarters, including most of Myanmar's Rakhine state. The entire border area of Bangladesh and Myanmar is now under their control. Informal discussions are going on with the Arakan Army on how the Bangladesh-Myanmar border will be managed, smuggling and drug prevention along the border, and how border trade will be conducted in this situation. However, this discussion is limited to the intelligence level only.
Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain said that Bangladesh as a state cannot negotiate with a non-state actor (Arakan Army) taking control of the border.
Meanwhile, the registration process of the United Nations Refugee Agency in Cox's Bazar has been stopped for the time being to prevent the infiltration of Rohingyas. Because, Rohingyas think that Bangladesh will get all kinds of help if they are registered with the United Nations. More and more Rohingyas are entering Bangladesh with this hope. However, UNHCR has registered 62,000 Rohingyas for the last 20 days before the registration process was suspended. This does not stop the infiltration. Because some members of the law and order forces, including brokers, are helping the Rohingya infiltration in exchange of money. The task force members are sitting in an emergency meeting today due to the existing situation. Sources also said that in this situation, the United Nations Refugee Agency has suggested opening the border to prevent the entry of Rohingyas.
"Our policy position was not to allow any more Rohingyas to enter. But sometimes the situation is such that we have nothing to do. We have not officially allowed the Rohingyas to enter. They entered in different ways. Another thing we have to remember is that there is a lot of corruption at the border. There is no way to deny it. They are entering through corruption, by paying brokers, they are entering with boats. It's not like they're just entering through only one border. They are entering through different points of the border. It is very difficult to prevent it," said Foreign Affairs Advisor Touhid Hossain In this regard.
Analysts say the loss of control of the regional army headquarters in Rakhine to the Arakan Army is a major blow to the country's junta government. Because it was the last stronghold under the control of the junta forces in Rakhine. The Arakan Army has taken control of the state's key city, Mangdu. Many Rohingyas live there. The Rohingyas are under pressure after the junta government was defeated by the AA. Many of their houses and businesses have been burnt. Many Rohingyas are leaving Mangdu and entering Bangladesh through various strategies to save their lives. Many people come to the Rohingya camps and stay at their relatives' and acquaintances' houses. The Rohingyas who belong to the middle class have started living in Teknaf and Ukhia by renting houses instead of staying in camps.
According to local sources, the Rohingyas are entering the mountain pass due to strict security in the Naf river. Even after Maungdu city was taken over by AA, the loud sound of gunfire did not stop at the border of Cox's Bazar and Bandarban districts. The flow of Rohingya towards Bangladesh is not stopping. Along with the Rohingyas, people of small ethnic groups are also entering through the hilly areas of Bandarban district. On November 18, more than half a hundred citizens of Tanchangya and Barua communities infiltrated through the Ghumdhum Baishfandari border of Bandarban and are staying in Ukhia.
Residents of the border said that the Rohingyas are infiltrating in various ways, even swimming to Bangladesh in the dark of night. Again, the Arakan Army has started trading with the Rohingyas in Mangdu. The Rohingyas who are paying them, are arranging for them to come to the Bangladesh border.
Rafiqul Huda, who lives on the border, said that the brokers evaded the law and order forces and brought the Rohingyas to the other side by boat. After that, they send them to the destination as per opportunity. It is difficult to stop infiltration if the brokers are not caught.
Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Mizanur Rahman told the Khaborer Kagoj that Rohingya infiltration into Bangladesh has increased slightly since the Arakan Army stepped up its attack on Mangdu. Because, Maungdu is a city inhabited by Rohingya. Their houses were burnt there. Rohingyas have been entering Bangladesh since November 2023 due to the conflict in Myanmar.
When asked about this, security analyst Major (retd) Emdadul Islam said that Rohingya repatriation has become complicated in the current situation. There is no possibility that the Arakan Army will help with the return of the Rohingyas. Because the Rohingya fought against the Arakan Army on behalf of the junta government. The crisis has increased.
Syed Alam, a resident of Teknaf Rohingya camp, said, "The Rohingyas are being expelled in the name of war in Rakhine. There are still about 300,000 Rohingyas in Maungdu city. Houses are being burnt there. People keep trying to enter Bangladesh to save their lives.
Members of several law enforcement agencies say that the Rohingyas are entering through the hilly areas of Bandarban border, including Naikshyongchari, Ghumdhum, Tumbru, Jamchari, Lebuchari, Alikadam, the hilly areas on the Paschimkul border, and the Hoikang and Hnila areas of Teknaf.Multiple brokers are active in these borders. They are giving them opportunities by taking 20-30 thousand rupees. There are many brokers in Myanmar besides brokers. Among them are Zakir Ahmad syndicate head in Jalpaitli area of Ghumdhum of Naikshyongchari and Kamrul Hasan Sohail, Nurul Amin alias Monia, Ismail, Ibrahim, Sarwar, Delwar, Zakir Ahmad Jahangir of Baishphandi, Alamgir, Shah Alam alias Ranga Shah Alam, Russell, Kamrul Hasan Sohail, Chayed Alam, Usingla, Mangsing Tanchangya, Mubarak and many others.
