One died, two missing while crossing Naff River in Arakan State

Teknaf, Bangladesh : One died, two missing while some Burmese nationals crossing the Naf River through the Nattaung Para point of Teknaf yesterday after sinking the ferry rowboat, at about 7:30 pm, nearby the Bangladesh side.

A ferry rowboat carrying 35 Burmese nationals from Maungdaw Township , Arakan State , crossing the Naff River , which demarcates Burma and Bangladesh , unfortunately it was sunk nearby the Bangladesh side. One died after reaching on the bank and two have been missing and the rest were, however, rescued by other fishing boats. They crossed the Burma-Bangladesh border for medical treatment and to see their relatives in the refugee camps, according to a relative of the victims.

Meanwhile, some fishing boats from Naf River and two other boats from Bangladesh side went to the spot hearing the hue and cry, to escape them from the Naf River and carried them to the bank of Bangladesh side.

After reaching the Bangladesh side, the Burmese nationals immediately disappeared as fear of arrest by the Bangladesh concerned authorities.

On information, 4 -BDR, or Bangladesh Rifles from Teknaf BDR Battalion No. 23 went to the spot and met a woman named Shuna Mher (55), who was on critical condition because of cold biting. Seeing her in critical condition, the BDR ordered her relatives to carry her in safe place. So, her relatives brought her to the Nayapara refugee camp, where her relatives have been living. However, she was dead after half an hour, said a refugee from the camp on condition of anonymity.

Today, her relatives are preparing in Nayapara refugee camp to bury the dead body nearby grave yard without giving information to concerned police station.

The missing two have been identified as Halima Khatun (40), and Noor Nahar (10). All the rowboat passengers are Burmese nationals from Maungdaw Township .

The boatmen (ferry carrier) were identified as Abul Kalam from Burma side, and Islam, Mahadu and Kalaya from Bangladesh side, said a fisherman from Nattaung Para of Teknaf.

Sourced By: Kaladan News