KALADAN NEWS

Dated- 21st  February 2003.

SOME RAHKINE FAMILIES RE-ENTERED BANGLADESH

Naikongchari, Feb. 21: Some Rakhine families from

Maungdaw, Buthidaung and Rathedaung townships of

Arakan State re-entered Bangladesh, according to our

correspondent.

Three Rakhine families about 20 family members led by

one U Tha Kyaw from “Wasali Model Village” of Maungdaw

township fled to Bangladesh on 20th December 2002 and

re-settled in Chandra Ghuna village of Rangamati

District of Chittagong Hill Tracts, he furher added.

About 45 Rakhine families from Cox’s Bazar, Nilha(

Teknaf area), Bandarband, Chandra Ghuna, Lama,

Alikodom, Nga Ran Chay, Nga Rah Gyi, Karan Chaung and

Makauk villages fled to Maungdaw township of Arakan

State in 2001. The States Peace and Development

Council (SPDC) was luring and inviting the Bangladeshi

Rakhines and giving them false promises and settled at

the “Wasali model Village” constructed by Nasaka with

forced labour of Rohingya villagers, U Tha Kyaw said.

The Nasaka and Military Intelligence (MI) gave false

promises to the new settlers to give them one house,

two acres of arable land, two bulls for plowing the

land, and ration for 3 moths per family, he further

added.

Regarding this, hoping better life, the Bangladeshi

Rakhines secretly fled to Arakan by crossing the Naf

River which is separated the Burma and Bangladesh,

near the Nila Rakhine village and reached MI (18) camp

of Ngakura village of Maungdaw township on 5th January

2001. Afterwards, they were carried to the “Waslai

Model Village”.

After reaching the model village, they were provided

one house per family, which was 60 feet length and 40

feet width. These houses were made of bamboos and

roofing with Dani (thatches) and were established on

the cemetery of Muslims, said our sources.

But the Nasaka and MI failed to keep their promises

towards the new settlers and also they were subjected

to various repressions and had to pay forced labor

frequently. Besides, they did not get any support from

SPDC since 3 April 2001 and also had to pay Kyat

3,500/- to MI-18 per month for a rikshaw in 20 monthly

instalments, which were provided by Secretary No.1.

They were unable to pay such installments and were

facing many kinds of difficulties in daily life to

maintain their families. For such situations, they

were compelled to flee again to Bangladesh, said U Tha

Kyaw.

“This was the worst thing that we didn’t get any

supports or wages while we were working continuously

for the Nasaka camps. At last, we thought that living

here in future, there would be more danger for us. So,

we secretly again fled to our country, Bangladesh”, he

further said.

At present, the SPDC authorities are giving all-out

supports to the new settlers who were settled at

Natala village, brought from Rangoon proper and upper

Burma, said our sources.

Editor

Kaladan Press Network.