Narinjara
Teknaf, 25 March 2008
Bangladesh Border Security Force Changes Tactics Against Burmese Muslims
Bangladesh border security forces have for the last few months been using a new tactic against Muslim migrants from Burma who attempt to enter Bangladesh territory, said a merchant from Teknaf.
In the past, Bangladesh border security forces would take migrants into custody for illegally entering Bangladesh territory and would send them to prison for processing.
Recently, border forces have been avoiding arresting the Burmese Muslim migrants they encounter, and have instead been pushing them back to Burma.
The merchant said that a five-member family from Buthidaung Township in Arakan State faced this new tactic on Saturday when they encountered a Bangladesh Rifles team as they were entering Bangladesh territory through Sapuri Island in the Naff River.
The family, including two minors, was being led by Nobi Hussan and entered Bangladesh to seek asylum as refugees, but was pushed back into Burma by the BDR forces.
Recently, many Muslim families from Burma have faced similar action by Bangladesh authorities when trying to enter Bangladesh without documents to seek refuge.
Nearly 1,000 Burmese nationals, mainly Muslims from Arakan State, are currently being detained in several Bangladesh prisons for illegally entering Bangladesh.
After being arrested, Bangladesh authorities are unable to deport them because the Burmese authority refuses to accept them on claims that they are not Burmese citizens.
It is because of these difficulties in repatriating undocumented Burmese migrants through normal channels that Bangladesh border security forces have likely switched to this new tactic of pushing them back across the border without arresting them, the merchant said. #
Teknaf, 25 March 2008
Bangladesh Border Security Force Changes Tactics Against Burmese Muslims
Bangladesh border security forces have for the last few months been using a new tactic against Muslim migrants from Burma who attempt to enter Bangladesh territory, said a merchant from Teknaf.
In the past, Bangladesh border security forces would take migrants into custody for illegally entering Bangladesh territory and would send them to prison for processing.
Recently, border forces have been avoiding arresting the Burmese Muslim migrants they encounter, and have instead been pushing them back to Burma.
The merchant said that a five-member family from Buthidaung Township in Arakan State faced this new tactic on Saturday when they encountered a Bangladesh Rifles team as they were entering Bangladesh territory through Sapuri Island in the Naff River.
The family, including two minors, was being led by Nobi Hussan and entered Bangladesh to seek asylum as refugees, but was pushed back into Burma by the BDR forces.
Recently, many Muslim families from Burma have faced similar action by Bangladesh authorities when trying to enter Bangladesh without documents to seek refuge.
Nearly 1,000 Burmese nationals, mainly Muslims from Arakan State, are currently being detained in several Bangladesh prisons for illegally entering Bangladesh.
After being arrested, Bangladesh authorities are unable to deport them because the Burmese authority refuses to accept them on claims that they are not Burmese citizens.
It is because of these difficulties in repatriating undocumented Burmese migrants through normal channels that Bangladesh border security forces have likely switched to this new tactic of pushing them back across the border without arresting them, the merchant said. #
