18 Rohingyas rescued, 13 missing after boat capsizes off Teknaf
Local fishermen rescued the 18 Rohingyas and handed them over to the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).
A boat carrying Rohingyas from Myanmar capsized off the coast of Shah Porir Dwip in Teknaf upazila of Cox's Bazar this morning (31 July), with 18 people rescued alive while at least 13 remain missing.
The incident took place around 8am near the Pashchim Para boat jetty of Shah Porir Dwip, Sabrang union parishad acting chairman Abdul Mannan said.
Local fishermen rescued the 18 Rohingyas and handed them over to the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).
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Teknaf BGB-2 Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Hanifur Rahman Bhuiyan said the 18 rescued people are currently in BGB custody.
"We are verifying why they came to Bangladesh. Details will be provided later," he said.
According to the rescuers, the boat sank while attempting to enter Bangladesh after leaving Myanmar's Rakhine State.
They said at least 13 people remain missing.
Abdul Mannan said the passengers were fleeing to Bangladesh due to the ongoing clashes between Myanmar's government forces and the Arakan Army across the border when the boat capsized off the Shah Porir Dwip coast.
Local fisherman Md Ismail said the boat was carrying 31 people when it sank.
"We managed to rescue 18 people, but another 13 are still missing. None of those rescued is women or children," he said.
