30 Rohingyas trying to go to Malaysia through trawler rescued from Cox’s Bazar

Bangladesh Coast Guard members today rescued 30 Rohingyas, who were trying to go to Malaysia illegally by a trawler through the Bay of Bengal, from Teknaf upazila in Cox's Bazar.

The Rohingya refugees trying to travel to Malaysia include twenty women, five men and five children. They were refugees from Kutupalong and Balukhali camps of the district, our Cox's Bazar staff correspondent reports. The coast guards also seized the trawler.

Quoting the Rohingyas, Amirul Haque, an official of Coast Guard's media wing, told reporters around 50 Rohingyas boarded the trawler from the sea beach in Teknaf, and Ukhia upazila on April 22.

The trawler started for Malaysia last night and at one stage the trawler driver announced that robbers had been chasing them and anchored at Boro Dail beach in the morning today.

Twenty of the Rohingyas fled when they sensed something was wrong, the official quoted the Rohingyas as saying.

On information, the coast guards rescued the Rohingyas and seized the trawler. The refugees were handed over to local police.

Confirming the incident, Teknaf Police Station's Officer-in-Charge Md Hafizur Rahman said the Rohingyas were in the trawler on the Bay of Bengal for five days.

Legal action will be taken in this connection and the alleged human traffickers will be identified after interrogating the rescued Rohingyas, he added.