38 detained in Teknaf after arriving by boat from Myanmar

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has detained 38 people, including women, men and children, after they entered Bangladesh by fishing boat from Myanmar by sea.

Among the 38 detained are 14 women, 8 men and 16 children.

They were detained in an operation at a house in Habirchhara village of Teknaf Sadar Union early on Monday. Several traffickers fled and went into hiding in the hills at the time, it was learnt.

In the afternoon, Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury, commander of the Teknaf 2 BGB Battalion, said 38 women, men and children were detained while entering by sea. All of them are suspected to be Rohingya. Legal action will be taken after their identities are verified.

The BGB and local people said a fishing boat packed with people arrived at the Teknaf coast from Myanmar at around 5am on Monday.

They were brought in a fishing boat owned by Farid Mia, a resident of the Mithapanir Chhara area of Teknaf Sadar Union. They were later kept at the house of a woman in Habirchhara village.

Rashid Mia, a member of the Teknaf Sadar Union Parishad, said the boat owners brought a group of 38 Rohingya from the Teknaf beach to Habirchhara village by sea in exchange for money.

Rashid Mia said there was a plan to take them to Malaysia by trawler later.

The BGB commander said legal action will be taken against the detained people after their identities are verified.