Bangladesh stops 27 Rohingya trying to get to Malaysia

By SM Najmus Sakib</p> <p>DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) – Bangladesh’s border guard on Wednesday stopped 27 Rohingya refugees, including women and children, from trying to get to Malaysia via sea route, local media reported.</p> <p>According to daily Prothom Alo, Lt. Col. Sarkar Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman, a border guard official in the region, told media the refugees were found in two different places.</p> <p>Rahman said 14 refugees were found in Sabarang Union area of Teknaf, while 13 others in Sadar Union of Teknaf.</p> <p>The Rohingya, described by the UN as the world's most persecuted people, have faced heightened fears of attack since dozens were killed in communal violence in 2012.</p> <p>According to Amnesty International, more than 750,000 Rohingya refugees, mostly women and children, have fled Myanmar and crossed into Bangladesh after Myanmar forces launched a crackdown on the minority Muslim community in August 2017.</p> <p>Since Aug. 25, 2017, nearly 24,000 Rohingya Muslims have been killed by Myanmar’s state forces, according to a report by the Ontario International Development Agency (OIDA).</p> <p>More than 34,000 Rohingya were also thrown into fires, while over 114,000 others were beaten, said the report, titled &quot;Forced Migration of Rohingya: The Untold Experience.&quot;</p> <p>Some 18,000 Rohingya women and girls were raped by Myanmar’s army and police and over 115,000 Rohingya homes were burned down and 113,000 others vandalized, it added.</p> <p>The UN has also documented mass gang rapes, killings – including of infants and young children – and brutal beatings and disappearances committed by Myanmar state forces.</p> <p>In a report, UN investigators said such violations may have constituted crimes against humanity and genocidal intent.