Photo : Collected
A trawler carrying 33 passengers arrived on the island of Saint Martin early Friday morning amid the ongoing conflict in Myanmar's Rakhine state. Among the passengers are two armed members of Myanmar's border guard (BGP) and 31 Rohingyas.
Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer Adnan Chowdhury said, "Public representatives reported that an engine-driven boat with 33 Myanmar nationals is arriving in St. Martin from Myanmar. I have learned that they will be sent back to their homeland after being held in BGB custody on the island. However, I have not been officially informed about this by any force yet."
Subedar Sanwar Hossain, who is in charge of St. Martin Island's BGB, stated, "Among the 33 passengers who arrived in a trawler, there are 10 men, 10 women, 11 children, and 2 Myanmar army personnel. They are currently in our custody, and preparations are underway to send these infiltrating Myanmar citizens back, as per the decision of higher authorities."
Mujibur Rahman, Chairman of St. Martin Island Union Parishad, mentioned that the trawler carrying these passengers from the Maungdaw area of Myanmar arrived at St. Martin under unfavorable conditions of heavy rains and bad weather. They are now under BGB guard at a resort on the northern beaches of the island. The BGP members also have weapons.
Nurul Amin, a resident of the island and a beach worker of the district administration, reported that there was heavy rain on the island last night. Due to the turbulent situation in the Maungdaw area, several other trawlers have crossed the sea with people seeking refuge. One of these trawlers arrived at Saint Martin.
They were sent back to Myanmar by the same boat at five o'clock on Friday.
Messenger/Fameema
