KALADAN NEWS

Date: April 8, 2005

Burmese Security Force abducted 6-Bangladeshi Nationals

Cox’s Bazar, April 8: Burmese Security Force abducted two Bangladeshi fishermen with 2 rowing boats and 4 other wood cutters within a week.

Two fishermen were abducted on April 6, 2005 who are identified as Mohammad Kasim and Kabir, hailing from Wabrang village of Nhila Union, a bordering village of Bangladesh that close to Burma. The Burmese Security Force asked them to pay toll for fishing, while they were catching fish in the Naf River. In failure of paying tolls, the Burmese forces picked up them from the river and are still kept in their custody, said Rafiq, a Bangladeshi fisherman from Nhila.

Besides, 4 other wood cutters were also abducted from deep forest on April 4 from Doisailla area of Ukhiya police station, a no mans land of Burma-Bangladesh, said Hossain Mohammed Shahin, a telephone operator from Ukhiya.

The woodcutters were identified as Mohammed Hossain, Abdul Hoque, Habibur Rahman and Ali Hossain. All of them are from Dham Khali village of Ukhiya under Cox’s Bazar district, he further said.

Actually, they are daily employees but occasionally they cut wood for their homes or to sell it in market for their survival, he added.

A group of patrolling Burmese security forces from Light Infantry Battalion No. 232, headed by Major Nyi Nyi Min arrested them, while they penetrated in the forest of Burma to cut wood, said a villager from Minkha Mong, who has close relation with security forces.

The abductees are being detained at a police outpost of Maugdaw Township. Cases may be logged soon against all under the illegal immigrant Act of Burma, he said

Abdu Jalil, a Bangladeshi fisherman from Zadi Mora of Teknaf said, “We are also in fear of arrest by Burmese security forces. They ask tolls from us, though we catch fishes in Bangladesh water territory. There is no justice in Burma, as a “Maghar Mulluk” means country of Magh and country of injustice. We have Maghs (Rakhaing) in Nhila but they are not like this. They are good.”

We request to concerned authorities of Bangladesh to give us security, as our livelihood is depend on fishing, he further said.

Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), Border Security Force of Bangladesh from Teknaf sent an official letter to Burma on April 7, for the release of these Bangladeshi nationals, but no response is known till writing of this report. # #

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