A network operated by the Arakan Army (AA) has reportedly trafficked 50 Rohingyas into Bangladesh, demanding exorbitant sums of money. The group was apprehended by the Border Guards of Bangladesh (BGB) and pushed back into Myanmar’s Maungdaw region on the evening of November 16, sources reveal.
According to reports, the Arakan Army’s human trafficking network has been exploiting vulnerable Rohingyas by charging massive amounts for transport to neighboring countries. “On November 15, 50 Rohingyas were smuggled into Bangladesh after paying 6 lakh MMK (Myanmar Kyat) per person. However, they were apprehended by the BGB and pushed back into Maungdaw at around 8:00 PM on November 16,” said a source familiar with the matter.
The trafficking operation appears to be extensive, with larger groups being transported and extorted beforehand. “On November 14, approximately 300 Rohingyas, including children, women, and men, were trafficked from Buthidaung to Maungdaw. They were forced to pay 20 lakh MMK per person and were housed in Kyaw Hle Kha and Mingalar Gyi villages in northern Maungdaw. From this group, 50 individuals were moved to Bangladesh after paying an additional 6 lakh MMK each,” the source added.
A victim, recounting their ordeal, stated, “We were taken from Buthidaung to Maungdaw on November 14 and extorted 20 lakh MMK by the Arakan Army’s human trafficking network. Afterward, we were transported to Bangladesh on November 15, paying another 6 lakh MMK per person. However, we were intercepted by the BGB and sent back to Maungdaw on November 16.”
The victims faced dire conditions after being pushed back into Myanmar. “Following our return, we were kept on boats near Mingalar Gyi village and floated in the sea for a day. The Arakan Army patrolling the area refused to let us disembark. Eventually, we were allowed ashore near Mingalar Gyi on November 17 at around 9:00 AM. Since then, we have been held in homes controlled by the Arakan Army’s human trafficking network in Mingalar Gyi village,” the victim revealed.
The situation for these trafficked individuals remains critical. “We have been starving since November 16. No food or care is being provided, and we are effectively being detained,” the victim added.
The plight of the Rohingyas continues to highlight the risks they face as they seek refuge from violence and instability in Myanmar. The involvement of armed groups like the Arakan Army in human trafficking adds another layer of complexity to the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region.
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