The Bangladesh Government is acting on advice from security services after several failed attempts at repatriating Rohingya-Burmese nationals back to Myanmar.
The Bangladesh Army has recommended construction of barbed wire fencing across all camps housing the Myanmar infiltrators. CCTV, ground surveillance radar, thermal imaging systems are all being set up to enhance surveillance in the camps and across the shared border with Myanmar.
Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has banned sales/distribution of SIM cards without National Identification (NID) cards otherwise meaning foreign nationals will not be allowed to obtain SIM cards. Access to internet and messaging applications have also been restricted.
Law enforcement agencies have also stepped up arrests and surveillance on Rohingya infiltrators including “camp leaders” who organised anti-Bangladesh activities on 25 August with assistance of non-governmental organisations (NGO).
Myanmar infiltrators have been engaged in rampant drug smuggling, robbery, rape, murder, kidnapping, prostitution, human trafficking, forgery, obtaining Bangladeshi national identity documents and passports illegally.
The Bangladesh government is also relocating 100,000 Rohingya infiltrators to Bhasan Char Island in the Bay of Bengal in an effort to improve security. The Bangladesh Navy has developed the island with modern accommodation, healthcare facilities and improved opportunities for education and livelihood for the foreign nationals before they are finally sent back to Myanmar.
The Bangladesh Navy is planning to transport the Burmese infiltrators by landing craft to the island shortly.
The Rohingya camps have become unsafe for Bangladeshis after dark with robbery the biggest reported crime according to locals.
A second Armed Police Battalion comprised of 800 personnel will be fully operational before the end of the year to augment the security arrangements at the Rohingya infiltrator camps in Cox’s Bazar.
Bangladesh is hosting at least 1.4 million Burmese origin nationals in camps with 125 children born each day. Bangladeshis want all Burmese infiltrators to be repatriated back to Myanmar without any further delay. Locals are increasingly growing frustrated at the criminal activities of Burmese nationals.
Myanmar nationals have illegally occupied Bangladeshi people’s lands and national reserve forests. Each day thousands of trees are cut for firewood used for cooking.
Bangladesh’s relationship with Myanmar has hit rock bottom since the crisis began after Myanmar security forces intensified atrocities against Muslim minorities in the country forcing over a million people to cross the border in to Bangladesh.
Bangladesh does not recognise Rohingya’s as refugees. Under Bangladeshi law they are foreign infiltrators.
Security agencies have warned Burmese nationals will get increasingly drawn to militancy due to their hopelessness.
Over 40 foreign NGO’s have had their activities suspended with 6 facing total ban to their operations in Bangladesh. Some NGO’s have been distributing sharp thousands of sharp weapons to the Burmese nationals who have used them for committing crimes.
A number of top ranking government officials involved with the botched repatriation exercise were also transferred.
Bangladesh Government has warned the United Nation’s representatives would be removed from the Rohingya camps if they do not support the governments active security measures.
