B'desh detains 382 Rohingya trying to enter by sea

Dhaka, April 16

Authorities in Bangladesh said they have detained 382 members of the Rohingya Muslim minority trying to enter the country in a boat from the southern coast, after two months adrift at sea. Most of these Rohingya had left the refugee camps in Bangladesh to try and reach Malaysia but were unable enter the country or any other place, and decided to return, according to the coastguard spokesperson Lieutenant commander Hamidul Islam. “Last night we detained them when they were trying to enter to Bangladesh. They were 382 people on the boat,” Islam said. “They told us that they left Bangladesh about two months ago for Malaysia and were joined by some other Rohingya from Myanmar’s Arakan on their way,” he added. Islam said the coastguard officials learned that at least 28 persons died from lack of food and water while at sea, and the bodies had been dumped into the water. IANS