To avoid the crackdown by the Myanmar army, Buddhists are now entering Bangladesh. This has seriously worried the government plus the Rohingyas who are residing in refugee camps within Bangladesh.

A Rohingya living in a camp says, “Myanmar is now pushing Buddhist people into Bangladesh.”

Myanmar wants to control certain areas of Bangladesh and that’s why Buddhist people are being pushed into Bangladesh as a premeditated plan.

Meanwhile, foreign minister of Bangladesh, Dr A K Abdul Momen, has declared that no new entry of people from Myanmar will be allowed.

A government official said, “We could not repatriate a single Rohingya in the last one and a half years and now Buddhists and other ethnic minorities are being pushed into Bangladesh by creating instability.”

This cannot be accepted, added the official.

Though official entry is restricted, non-Muslim people are still entering Bangladesh through unsecured border areas.

After entering, they are taking shelter with close relatives or Buddhist families.

Many are living in tents put up on open fields. This has triggered concern among the general people in Cox’s Bazaar.

A local resident said, “The one million Rohingyas already residing here has already created pressure on our livelihoods and residence; any new entry will exacerbate already existing problems.”

Local administration sources say that in the last four days, around 203 Buddhists from Myanmar have taken refuge in Chaikhangpara. Also, another 1000 Rohingyas who were living in India have come to Bangladesh.

Teknaf municipality panel mayor, Abdullah Monir, said, "Rohingyas are making multi-dimensional problems. Drug addiction plus crimes are rising.”

Since they are offering labour at low cost, local people are becoming unemployed, he added.

He also feared that with the increasing number of Rohingyas, the area may soon go under their control.

In charge of Teknaf camp, Lieutenant, Mirza Shahed Mahatab, said, “We are maintaining strict vigilance on the camps and the number of temporary guard posts has been increased.”

Since a Myanmar army crackdown in August 2017, more than seven lakh Rohingyas came to Bangladesh and they are residing at several camps in Cox’s Bazaar and Teknaf.

At this moment, government is not eager to give shelter to any more people from Myanmar.