Maungdaw, Arakan State: Burma border guard police –BGP- hurled insult holy Qurans on a bus that plied Ngakura-Maungdaw road on July 7, according to Rakib Ullah from Ngakura village who is going to Maungdaw. The bus plied Ngakura –Maungdaw-Ngakura everyday with passengers, foods stuff – potato chips, dates, vermicelli and vegetables- and there was no restriction on carrying goods before even it is from Bangladesh, Thailand or Rangoon, said Rakib Ullah.

There were some Holy Qurans on the bus which were being carried from Ngakura village to Maungdaw Town, but the BGP personnel from main check-post of headquarters kicked, threw, tore and other kinds of insult the Qurans, said an elder from Maungdaw who was on the bus.

“In the check-post, there are some new recruits of BGP personnel who are from Maungdaw town, had made all kinds of insult the Quran.”

The bus is owned by a Rohingya from Ngakura and it number plate is 4A/4402. The BGP seized the bus which was carrying Qurans, potato chips, dates and vermicelli those were mostly used in Ramadan by Rohingyas. The BGP also charged the driver – Abdullah and its helper -Yah Yah. However, the bus was released on bill on July 11, but the driver and helper are still in detention, Ashore, a member of vehicle owner association.

This kinds of action showed that the BGP will harass Rohingyas more in future. The DG of BGP Tin Ko Ko started harassments against Rohingyas what he mentioned before at the public meeting as— destroying business, properties and to keep in IDP camps like Akyab, said Halim, a Human Rights Watchdog from Maungdaw.

“This is the first time, the authority seized vehicle, goods and arrested its driver and helper. The authority did not take any action before for carrying goods within Maungdaw areas and from Muangdaw to other areas or from other areas to Maungdaw.”

Source: KPN