More than 150 sick Rohingya people are waiting to trespass into Bangladesh through Ukhia upazila and several border points of Teknaf upazila in Cox's Bazar district.
It was stated by the inhabitants of Palongkhali border in Ukhia and Whykong border. Security has been tightened at different points including Anjumanpara in Ukhia upazila.
Myanmar is situated along these borders which saw an influx of Rohingya refugees.
As the news of trespassing of sick Rohingya people had spread at about 9:00pm on Thursday, people on behalf of local elected representatives of Anjumanpara in Palongkhali union and Whykong Ulbonia area cautioned the local inhabitants through miking at different mosques, it is learnt.
Sultan Ahmad, a union parishad (UP) member of Ward No. 9 of Palongkhali Union Parishad, said a government agency posted at the border told them on Thursday night that a large number of Rohingya would try to enter Bangladesh. Receiving information, local inhabitants were cautioned through mikes at mosques.
In the same way, local inhabitants of Ulobonia area in Teknaf were cautioned through mikes of the mosques.
Ahmad said: "Right now (at about 11:30 on Thursday night) we have been staying at a shrimp cultivation area at Paishakhali near the border. We are hearing the sound of talking and crying of a large number of people inside the jungle on the other side. However, we are very cautious. During the ongoing coronavirus crisis, we would not allow any single Rohingya to enter Bangladesh."
He claimed that there were many coronavirus infected cases among them.
Palongkhali Union Parishad chairman M Gafur Uddin Chowdhury said, "We have talked to the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) officials at the border and alerted them that more than 150 sick Rohingya families will make attempt to trespass into Bangladesh. They (BGB) said they knew about it and remained alert. They said they were very active to stop any trespassing into Bangladesh."
Cox's Bazar BGB 34 Battalion’s commander Lt Col Ali Haider Azad Ahmed said, "We have heard about the attempt of a group of Rohingya to trespass through different points of Ukhia and Tekhnaf. The BGB personnel have been sent to Anjumanpara. Rohingya people would not be allowed to enter Bangladesh afresh. The BGB personnel have been asked to remain alert at the border posts, so that none can trespass into Bangladesh.
MFI/SZA
