Bangladesh on alert as military crackdown in Myanmar stokes fears of Rohingya Muslims influx

The Bangladeshi government, anticipating further influx of Rohingya Muslims, has ordered its border and coast guards and local administration to heighten their vigilance along its border with Myanmar.

After a high-level meeting, Bangladeshi Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan told journalists Sunday that "We've asked to step up patrols along our border with Myanmar."

He said the paramilitary force Border Guard of Bangladesh BGB are on alert so that Rohingyas from the western Myanmar state of Rakhine cannot enter Bangladesh territory.

Bangladesh, which shares about 168 km of border with Myanmar, already refused to accept Rohingyas fleeing the military crackdown launched in response to coordinated rebel attacks on three border posts on Oct. 9 that killed nine police officers.

Bangladesh Coast Guard Saturday pushed back over 100 Rohingyas who on small fishing boats tried to cross the Naaf River that separates Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Myanmar Army reportedly confirmed death of 130 Rohingyas in the recent military crackdown.

According to the UN, up to 30,000 people have been displaced by violence, half of which occurred during

last week, the most serious since hundreds were killed in communal clashes in 2012.

The Rohingya influx in Bangladesh is not new and it has been reported that the influx of Rohingya continued for long.

According to Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry, more than 28,000 registered Rohingyas are currently staying at two camps in Bangladesh in addition to 300,000 to 500,000 more unregistered Rohingya immigrants. Endit