Rohingya Fleeing to Bangladesh Apprehended by BGB

On November 11, a heartbreaking scene unfolded at the Alikadam border in Bandarban, Bangladesh, where Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) detained 81 Rohingya refugees, including 31 children, as they sought safety from the violence engulfing their homeland. The group, primarily from Buthidaung, Myanmar, had journeyed with hope in their hearts, only to be intercepted by the BGB before they could set foot on Bangladeshi soil. Now, their fate remains uncertain, with the looming threat of being forcibly returned to the conflict zones of Arakan State, Myanmar.

Among the detained refugees, one man explained the painful decision that led them to flee: “We are fleeing to Bangladesh because we have been persecuted by the Arakan Army. Our sons and fathers are being forcibly conscripted into their ranks, and many have been abducted on false charges. We had no choice but to escape. With the help of brokers, we made our way here, hoping to find safety in Bangladesh.”

A woman, tearfully recounting her family’s plight, shared, “The Arakan Army escorted us to this point, but they charged 20 lakh MMK per person. We are not criminals; we are just trying to survive. Our sons, fathers, and husbands are taken away, forced into the army, and some are simply disappeared, detained for things they never did. We fled to protect our families from being torn apart.”

As these words echoed through the makeshift camp where they were held, another victim, visibly anxious, voiced the deepest fear shared by the entire group: “We are terrified of being sent back. The Bangladesh government seems to be planning to push us back into the very conflict we fled from. Our lives are at risk if we are returned. We have already lost so much, and now, we fear we will lose everything.”

This latest apprehension raises serious concerns about the future of these vulnerable families. Dr. Mohammed Yonus, a representative of the interim government, had previously assured that Bangladesh would offer refuge to those fleeing violence. “We will not push back those seeking shelter,” he had promised. Yet, despite these assurances, reports now suggest that the Bangladeshi authorities are preparing to send these desperate refugees back into the hands of the same forces they fled from—the Arakan Army, which has been systematically targeting the Rohingya community in Myanmar with violence and persecution.

The faces of the detained families reveal the harsh reality of their plight—families torn apart, children frightened, and mothers clinging to the hope of a future free from fear. Their eyes speak volumes about the pain and uncertainty they endure, trapped between the violent forces of Myanmar and the potential rejection of safety in Bangladesh.

As the international community watches, these refugees remain caught in a cycle of suffering, struggling to find peace in a world that seems unwilling to grant them the refuge they desperately seek. Rohingya Vision News stands as a witness to their stories, hoping for a day when they can find the safety and dignity they so rightfully deserve.

Rohingya Vision News