Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazaar: The Bangladesh government has been harassing and oppressing Arakanese Rohingyas living along the border area since January 2010, according to sources.

Fresh batches of Arakanese Rohingyas were arrested by personnel of Ukhiy police station on February 2, said a refugee from the camp.

That day from morning till evening, the police arrested over 50 Arakanese Rohingyas including women from different places of Ukhiya following raids.

Of them, 20 males and 18 females were pushed back by Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) through the transit point of Balu Khali under Cox’s Bazaar district and 12 people were sent to jail, sources said.

Many Arakanese Rohingyas are starving following movement restriction following arrests by Bangladesh government and local people as they can’t work for fear of arrest, said a local from Ukhiya on condition of anonymity.

Since January 2010, authorities arrested over 500 Arakanese Rohingyas including women along the border areas and over 2,000 families joined the Kutupalong makeshift camp which is situated near the UNHCR official camp, he added.

Like the Burmese ruling junta, Bangladesh government is oppressing the Arakanese Rohingyas along the border area. “If Bangladesh government does this, where will the Arakanese Rohingyas go? asked a widow in Teknaf.