20 Rohingyas illegally enter Saint Martin's island

A boat carrying 20 Rohingyas fleeing from Myanmar landed on the northern beach of Saint Martin's Island on Friday morning (July 25). Among the passengers were 16 men, three women, and one child.

Confirming the incident, Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sheikh Ehsan Uddin said, "Law enforcement agencies are taking necessary steps regarding the Rohingyas."

According to local sources, several Rohingyas recently released from Myanmar’s prisons attempted to escape to Bangladesh by boat. Due to rough weather conditions, their boat took shelter near the northwestern shore of the coral island. Local residents noticed the group and alerted the authorities, after which the Rohingyas were rescued and temporarily housed in a hotel.

Mohammad Soleiman, a resident of Saint Martin’s, said that the boat arrived at the shore during stormy weather in the morning. The passengers disembarked and came ashore, after which members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) took them into custody. Among the rescued were women and a child.

Foyezul Islam, Chairman of the Saint Martin Union Parishad, said, "Locals informed us about a Rohingya-laden boat entering the island, but I don't have further details."

As of now, the BGB and Coast Guard stationed in Teknaf have not made any official statements regarding the incident.

According to border sources, intense fighting broke out in early February 2024 between Myanmar’s government forces and the Arakan Army in Rakhine State. After 11 months of conflict, on December 8 last year, the Arakan Army reportedly took control of nearly 80% of Rakhine territory. Since then, the border region has remained tense. The UNHCR reports that over the past 18 months, approximately 150,000 new Rohingyas have fled from Myanmar into Bangladesh.