A total of 22 Rohingyas have newly entered Bangladesh through the Teknaf border in Cox's Bazar, officials confirmed on Thursday (June 5).

Among them, 14 were found this afternoon near the Abu Siddique Market area beside the Teknaf bus station.

The group includes two men, two women and 10 children. They are members of the families of Mohammad Amin and Mostafa Kamal, residents of the Lombabil area in Buthidaung town of Myanmar’s Rakhine State.

According to Amin and Kamal, they crossed the Bay of Bengal from Myanmar by boat and reached the coastal area of Maheshkhalia Para in Teknaf Sadar near Saint Martin’s Island.

Later, members of intelligence agencies detained them.

Lt Col Md Ashiqur Rahman, commanding officer of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Teknaf-2 Battalion, said, “We have taken the 14 Rohingyas into custody. The process to send them back to Myanmar is underway.”

Since the Arakan Army seized control of most areas in Rakhine State following clashes with Myanmar’s junta in December, around 180,000 new Rohingyas have reportedly entered Bangladesh by May 1, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC).

MSK/