Rohingyas who have taken refuge at Ukhiya and Teknaf are going to Malaysia by sea in perilous conditions.
In three days last week, Cox’s Bazaar police have detained more than 150 Rohingyas who were on their way to Malaysia. Most of the arrested are women and children.
Police say that most of them tried to go to Malaysia enticed by prospects of better life, marriage or employment.
On 13 May, Monday night, two Rohingyas, believed to be human traffickers, were killed during a shoot-out with the police.
Law enforcers say that trafficking rings have become active in Rohingya camps where around 1.1 million people are living.
These Rohingyas fled persecution and tyranny in Myanmar and a large portion came to Bangladesh in August, 2017.
Human traffickers have become desperate to exploit the vulnerability of the Rohingyas.
Additional police super of Cox’s Bazaar, Mohammad Iqbal Hossain, said: “We are worried over the sudden surge in the trafficking of Rohingyas; since Cox’s Bazaar is a coastal area, only police cannot prevent human trafficking.”
A list of traffickers has been made and work is underway to capture them; in addition, surveillance has been ramped up at the camps, he added.
Leader of the Ukhia camps, Mohammad Ayub, says: “People are lured with job prospects and encouraged to take the illegal sea route to Malaysia.”
Inspector of Teknaf Baharchara police outpost, Mohammad Anwar Hossain, said: “Rohingya women are trafficked with promises of marriage; Tk. 5000 was taken from each woman but the police intervened in time and saved them.”
The women were supposed to pay Tk. 150,000 to Tk 200,000 per person once they reached Malaysia, said the police officer.
Thana Nirbahi Officer of Teknaf, Mohammad Rabiul Hassan, says: “There has been a sudden rise in sea trips to Malaysia; the drive to nab traffickers is on.”