Despite the increasing number of deaths, the desperate attempt to go to Malaysia through the risky Bay of Bengal has not yet stopped.
In spite of regular vigilance of law enforcers, human traffickers operate engine boats from several place sof the long Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf marine drive, or from the coast of Sabrang, to take Rohingya refugees to Malaysia.
Traffickers are discovering new points for trafficking people to Malaysia in order to avoid law enforcement.
Media sources say that Ukhiya-Teknaf, a widespread area on the coast, is being used by a syndicate as a transit point for human trafficking. Cox's Bazaar has 101 listed human traffickers. They are mostly active near Rohingya camps. They have numerous sources. Through these sources, the smuggling syndicate targets beautiful Rohingya women in order to conduct their trafficking business.
According to reports, Teknaf police have arrested 12 Rohingyas who were waiting for a boat to sail to Malaysia from the coast of Sabrang area on Thursday night, following the death of 15 people, including women and children, in a trawler which sank in the sea near St Martin's on February 11. Police claimed that two brokers were also arrested at the time.
On 20th January this year, 22 Rohingya men and women were rescued while preparing to travel to Malaysia illegally from Baharchara coast of Teknaf. Law enforcement personnel rescued more than 300 Rohingya women, men and children who were being trafficked to Malaysia from January to December last year.
It is alleged that the since the sea is less turbulent during the winter, smugglers think it is safe for trafficking in the waterways. Besides, the collaborators in the operation were arrested, but human trafficking could not be stopped as the ringleaders of trafficking were out of reach. As a result, the brokers are continuing their activities on all the Rohingya camps.
The Rohingya women who were rescued have claimed that unmarried women were being taken to Malaysia after they were given false hopes of getting married. Secondly, the women whose husbands are in Malaysia were desperately looking forward to Malaysia anyway. Many young women and widows are constantly trying to get to Malaysia.
It was discovered that token money was collected of about Tk 20,000 to Tk 30,000 from those who agreed to go to Malaysia. The deal was finalized to take the rest of the money in Malaysia. Opportunity-seeking Bangladeshi brokers also cooperate with camp brokers.
The Rohingyas who want to go to Malaysia were expelled from the camp and handed over to them (Bangladeshi brokers). The Bangladeshi brokers then try to put them on a trawler or on a boat when they get the opportunity.
According to Abdur Rab, the panel chairman of the St Martin's Union, many Rohingya victims are being cheated on the way to Malaysia and they fall victim to the human trafficking cycle. Since they know there will be no consequences, the brokers are extracting large sums of money from the Rohingyas.
In this regard, St Martin's Station Commander, Lt Commander Naeem ul Haque of the Coast Guard said that the Coast Guard is on alert to stop human trafficking to Malaysia by sea. Additional Superintendent of Police of Cox's Bazar District Md Iqbal Hossain said police surveillance has been increased at points along the coast where there is danger of human trafficking.
Reliable sources, meanwhile said that 621 cases of human trafficking lawsuits are currently being tried in Cox's Bazar court. These cases were filed until January last, after the law was passed in 2012. However, not a single trial has been completed in that period. Besides, if the main smugglers involved in trafficking are not arrested, trafficking to Malaysia will not stop, according to experts.
