Local collect tolls from Refugee in Bangladesh

By KPN

November 05, 2013

Ukhiya, Bangladesh: Local gangsters have been collecting tolls from unregistered Rohingya refugee while the refugee went to collect firewood from the forest since November 1, said Kala Meah from the Kutupalong refugee camp.

The refugee from Kutupalong unregistered makeshift camp always go to the forest nearby camp to collect firewood for their survival as they are not getting foods or support for not recognizing by Bangladesh government and UNHCR, Meah said.

The refugee sale the firewood in the local market near the camp and arranged for their family survival, but some local gangsters near the camp become greedy on the business of refugee firewood and started to collect tolls from refugee, said Abul Hussein, an elder from the camp.

At first the gangsters collected per head 10-50 taka depend on their collecting. Later, the gangsters hijacking refugee and demand hug amount of money as; 1000-5000 taka. The refugee complain to the concerned authority – camp officer – then the gangsters were

Drove off from the area. Now, again the gangsters are starting again to collect toll from refugee, Abul Hussein said.

The gangsters collected from 1500 to 3000taka per refugee while 30 refugee went to the forest to collect firewood yesterday. Some of the refugee who gave 1500 taka per head are;- Abu Musa; Hamid; Saber and the gangsters are:- Farid and Shajan and Ali hailed from Fayazee para of Kutupalong, said an religious leader from the camp.

The gangsters are backing by some political leader and now the Bangladesh political situation become unrest and these kind of group started to harass the refugee. The refugee are not able to go outside the camp and most of refugee are going to forest to collect firewood while the country become under shutdown by political party, the religious leader said.

Since political unrest in Bangladesh, Rohingya unregistered refugee become to survive hardship as they are not able to go for jobs – rickshaw pulling, day labor, fishing and others. The refugee camp become shortage of foods and become starvation, said a school teacher from the camp.

Amnesty International's T. Kumar to Speak at the Islamic Society of North America's Convention

Amnesty International's T. Kumar to Speak at the Islamic Society of North America's Convention Advocacy Director T. Kumar to Speak on Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar (Burma) Contact: Carolyn Lang, clang@aiusa.org, 202-675-8759 /EINPresswire.com/ (Washington, D.C.) -- Amnesty International Advocacy Director T. Kumar will address the Islamic Society of North America's 49th Annual Convention "One Nation Under God: Striving for the Common Good," in regards to the minority community of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar (Burma) on Saturday, September 1, at 11:30 am at the Washington DC Convention Center.

American Buddhists Promote 969 Movement With Website

Irrawaddy News: July 9, 2013 A group of American Buddhists has launched an English-language website promoting the 969 movement, in response to negative media surrounding the ultra-nationalist Buddhist campaign in Burma. The website aims to dispel “myths” about the movement, with a letter from nationalist monk Wirathu to a Time magazine reporter whose article about 969 was banned in Burma. “We’re not officially endorsed by Ven Wirathu at this time but will send a delegation to his monastery soon,” a spokesperson for the site said via email, adding that the group would create a nonprofit to coordinate “969 activities worldwide in response to religious oppression.”

Rohingya Activist Nominated for Human Rights Award

PHR congratulates Zaw Min Htut, a Burmese Rohingya activist, on his nomination for the 2011 US State Department Human Rights Defenders Award . Zaw Min Htut has been working for Rohingyas’ rights through the Burmese Rohingya Association of Japan since he fled Burma in 1998. Prior to that he was a student activist in Burma, and was detained for his participation in protests in 1996. In Japan, Zaw Min Htut has organized protests at the Burmese embassy and has written books on the history of Rohingya.

The Stateless Rohingya Blog

Search This Blog