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Myanmar sends back 150 "boat people" to Bangladesh

Xinhua, June 8, 2015 Adjust font size:

Myanmar authorities on Monday sent back 150 Bengali "boat people" to Bangladesh after verification, according to the Rakhine state government.

The Bengali "boat people" were repatriated from Taung Pyao ( Letwe) township through Myanmar-Bangladesh Friendship Bridge.

The 150 Bengali "boat people" are among the 208 on board a fishing trawler rescued on May 21 by Myanmar navy when patrolling off the western coast of Maungtaw, western Rakhine state.

Among them, 200 were identified as Bangladeshi and arrangement were made to repatriate them to the country of origin under an agreement between authorities of Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Investigation by the Myanmar government found that some of the "boat people" had fallen victim to human trafficking rings and crime syndicates after receiving offer of work in Thailand and Malaysia from illegal job brokers.

According to Myanmar's Foreign Ministry Monday, the authorities will continue to send back another batch of 727 "boat people" rescued by Myanmar navy on May 29 at sea near Haigyikyun, southwestern Ayayawaddy region.

The 727 Bengali "boat people" , including 608 male, 74 female and 45 children, reportedly set out from the sea between Myanmar and Bangladesh in the fourth week of March with three boats to go to Malaysia via Thailand.

On arrival at Thai waters, they waited for Malaysian boats that would transport them to Malaysia for 45 days and as no one came to fetch them, they sailed back to their original place. Endi