Kaladan News

Dated: Tuesday, April 26, 2005

 

Bangladeshi woodcutters subjected to Harassment by Nasaka

 

 Cox's Bazar, April 26: Burmese Border Security Force (Nasaka) often arrest Bangladeshi woodcutters from the no mans land of Burma-Bangladesh border, while they enter in forest to cut wood, bamboos and etc.

 

On April 12, 2005, at about 12:00 pm, a number of 30 Bangladeshi woodcutters were picked up by the Nasaka from zero-line of Burma-Bangladesh border from the pillar No. 46 in Naikongchori area under Chittagong Hill Tracts while they went to cut wood at Asartali hill, said Shoib, a woodcutter from Naikhonchari.

 

Ten of them were released after taking bribes and 20 others were brought to their camp custody. Though Nasaka hit on a tire of a truck by bullet, luckily four of them managed to escape with the truck, he further added.

 

The woodcutters were cutting wood for Noor Mohammad, who is a wood trader of Naikongchori of Chittagong Hill Tracts. While the woodcutters were carrying wood, the patrolling Burmese Security Force (Nasaka) met them and were arrested after threatening by blind fire to the air.

 

The arrestees are identified as Sayed Noor (35), Kabir Hussain (40), Nurul Islam (45), Shafi (30), Md. Ismail (20), Ali Hussain (35), Abul Kasim (18), Mustak (32), Alam (33), Shona Mia (26), Abu Shama (30), Didar Alam (38), Md. Sayed Hussain (22) and seven others.

 

Regarding the matter, on April 16, 2005, a flag meeting was held between Bangladesh border security forces (BDR) and Nasaka for immediate release of arrested woodcutters but there is no response from Burmese side till writing this report.

 

The meeting was held at a place of no mans land nearby Pillar No 43, in which Capt. Sein Shwe led the Burmese side, while Holdar Major Habibur Rhaman led the Bangladesh side. During their meeting, Nasaka gave assurance for the release of Bangladeshi nationals. Later, hoping the release of Bangladeshi nationals, the BDR released 27 Burmese arrested nationals and were sent to Burma in the same day. But, the Bangladeshi nationals are reportedly languishing in the custody of Nasaka till writing of the report.

 

On the other hand, on April 22, thirty two other Bangladeshi woodcutters were severely beaten and wounded by the Nasaka. Of them, 13 were severely injured and their health situation is very serious. So, some of them have been admitted in Cox’s Bazaar Hospital and others have been sent to Chittagong Medical Collage Hospital for appropriate treatment. They are identified as Sayed Alam, Abdur Rahim, Nazir Ahammad, Dil Mohammad, Nurul Islam, Sultan Ahmad, Md. Rafique, Abdus Salam, Sayed Alam (II), Farid Alam, Monzor, Dildar and Nazir Hussain.

 

On mentioned date, about 200 Bangladeshi nationals went to the Walidaung hill (Burma-Bangladesh Border) to cut wood and bamboos from Ukhiya Police Station under Cox’s Bazar District. Though most of them could manage to escape, 32 of them were arrested by Nasaka on the spot, said a woodcutter from Dail Para, who managed to escape. ##

 

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