'Not a single Rohingya would be allowed to enter Bangladesh'

Not a single Rohingya would be allowed to enter Bangladesh anew in the wake of ongoing tense situation in sequel to internal conflicts in Myanmar, said newly appointed Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Director General Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui on Tuesday (February 6).

The BGB DG said Bangladesh-Myanmar border situation has remained under the total control of Bangladesh. "We'll not allow a single Rohingya to enter Bangladesh anew," he said.

Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui also said a boat carrying 65 Rohingyas tried to enter Bangladesh by boats through the waterways from Myanmar and were taken into custody today (Tuesday), but they were pushed back by the BGB personnel at Teknaf. "We'll not allow any Rohingya to enter Bangladesh anew. The BGB has been working at the directive of the prime minister to protect sovereignty of the country."

The BGB personnel have remained vigilant so that no Rohingya can enter the country, he added.

The BGB DG was speaking to local correspondents after paying respects at the mausoleum of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Tungipara in Gopalganj district early Tuesday afternoon.

Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui said 115 Myanmar's border guard police (BGP) surrendered or took refuge to the BGB until Monday. More 114 were added this morning. The number was 229 till early afternoon. After the early afternoon, the figure went up to 264 including border guards and immigration staff,  from the Rakhine state since Sunday.

"We have arranged accommodation and food for them. Of them, 15 were injured and 8 of them were critically injured. Four of these 8 critically injured were admitted to Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital under BGB's supervision, while the rest four were shifted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital under the BGB's arrangements," he said.

Maj Gen Siddiqui said he met Myanmar's defense attache in Dhaka on Monday to discuss their repatriation.

END/CORRESPONDENT/SZA