A Delhi court has sought the response of Tihar Jail authorities on a sexual harassment complaint of a British national inside the prison where he is lodged for allegedly recruiting youths for al-Qaeda to carry out terror activities.

27-year-old Shamiun Rahman, a British national of Bangladeshi origin, was arrested in September for his alleged involvement in recruiting Rohingya Muslims for the terror outfit and train them to fight against the Myanmarese army.

In his application moved before Additional Sessions Judge Siddharth Sharma, he alleged that he was sexually harassed by Tihar Jail security personnel and inhuman behaviour was meted out to him by the prison authorities.

The court directed the jail authorities to file response on the application moved by advocate M S Khan by November 8.

The accused alleged that he was forced to live in inhuman conditions inside the jail and it lacks basic facilities such as proper food, drinking water, sanitation and medical aid.

The Special Cell of Delhi police had alleged that the process of radicalisation of Rahman alias Raju Bhai began in a jail in London where he was lodged on charges of rash driving.

During this period, he stayed at various madrassas in Kishanganj (Bihar), Hazaribagh (Jharkhand), NCR and other places.He had plans to set up base in Mizoram or Manipur to train radicalised youth.

An FIR was filed by the special cell after his arrest under various provisions relating to the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Arms Act, and Passport Act.

27-year-old Shamiun Rahman, a British national of Bangladeshi origin, was arrested in September for his alleged involvement in recruiting Rohingya Muslims for the terror outfit and train them to fight against the Myanmarese army

A Delhi court has sought the response of Tihar Jail authorities on a sexual harassment complaint of a British national inside the prison where he is lodged for allegedly recruiting youths for al-Qaeda to carry out terror activities. 27-year-old Shamiun Rahman, a British national of Bangladeshi origin, was arrested in September for his alleged involvement in recruiting Rohingya Muslims for the terror outfit and train them to fight against the Myanmarese army. In his application moved before Additional Sessions Judge Siddharth Sharma, he alleged that he was sexually harassed by Tihar Jail security personnel and inhuman behaviour was meted out to him by the prison authorities. The court directed the jail authorities to file response on the application moved by advocate M S Khan by November 8. The accused alleged that he was forced to live in inhuman conditions inside the jail and it lacks basic facilities such as proper food, drinking water, sanitation and medical aid. The Special Cell of Delhi police had alleged that the process of radicalisation of Rahman alias Raju Bhai began in a jail in London where he was lodged on charges of rash driving. During this period, he stayed at various madrassas in Kishanganj (Bihar), Hazaribagh (Jharkhand), NCR and other places.He had plans to set up base in Mizoram or Manipur to train radicalised youth. An FIR was filed by the special cell after his arrest under various provisions relating to the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Arms Act, and Passport Act.

Al-Qaeda suspect alleges sexual harassment in Tihar Jail

Life-threatening levels of malnutrition have risen dramatically among Rohingya refugee children who have fled Myanmar for Bangladesh, the United Nations warned Friday.

The UN children&#39;s agency said preliminary data indicated a full 7.5 per cent of the children crammed into one of the camps in Bangladesh&#39;s Cox&#39;s Bazar district were at risk of dying from severe acute malnutrition.

More than 600,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar&#39;s Rakhine state since late August during military operations that the United Nations has described as ethnic cleansing and the world&#39;s most acute refugee crisis.

Around half of them are children.

&quot;It&#39;s very worrying to see the condition of children who keep arriving,&quot; UNICEF spokesman Christophe Boulierac told reporters in Geneva after a recent trip to the camps.

The agency and its partners are already treating more than 2,000 acutely malnourished children at 15 treatment centres, and are in the process of setting up six additional centres.

UNICEF said its preliminary findings were based on a nutrition assessment conducted last week of children under the age of five in 405 households in the Kutupalong refugee camp in Cox&#39;s Bazar.

&quot;The Rohingya children in the camp, who have survived horrors in Myanmar&#39;s northern Rakhine State and a dangerous journey here, are already caught up in a catastrophe,&quot; UNICEF Bangladesh Representative Edouard Beigbeder said in a statement.

&quot;Those with severe malnutrition are now at risk of dying from an entirely preventable and treatable cause,&quot; he warned.

Malnutrition rates among children in northern Rakhine were already above emergency thresholds before the latest crisis erupted.

&quot;The condition of these children has further deteriorated due to the long journey across the border and the conditions in the camps,&quot; the UNICEF statement said.

Some 26,000 people now live in the Kutupalong camp, where they are faced with an acute shortage of food and water, unsanitary conditions and high rates of diarrhoea and respiratory infections, the agency said.

UNICEF said it was planning two additional assessments in other sites in Cox&#39;s Bazar this month, including at a makeshift settlement, to help determine if the numbers found in Kutupalong might apply to the entire area.

&quot;We need far more attention to the crisis, and far more resources for the response,&quot; Beigbeder said, stressing that &quot;these children need help right now.&quot;&nbsp;

The UN children's agency said preliminary data indicated a full 7.5 per cent of the children crammed into one of the camps in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar district were at risk of dying from severe acute malnutrition

Life-threatening levels of malnutrition have risen dramatically among Rohingya refugee children who have fled Myanmar for Bangladesh, the United Nations warned Friday. The UN children's agency said preliminary data indicated a full 7.5 per cent of the children crammed into one of the camps in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar district were at risk of dying from severe acute malnutrition. More than 600,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar's Rakhine state since late August during military operations that the United Nations has described as ethnic cleansing and the world's most acute refugee crisis. Around half of them are children. "It's very worrying to see the condition of children who keep arriving," UNICEF spokesman Christophe Boulierac told reporters in Geneva after a recent trip to the camps. The agency and its partners are already treating more than 2,000 acutely malnourished children at 15 treatment centres, and are in the process of setting up six additional centres. UNICEF said its preliminary findings were based on a nutrition assessment conducted last week of children under the age of five in 405 households in the Kutupalong refugee camp in Cox's Bazar. "The Rohingya children in the camp, who have survived horrors in Myanmar's northern Rakhine State and a dangerous journey here, are already caught up in a catastrophe," UNICEF Bangladesh Representative Edouard Beigbeder said in a statement. "Those with severe malnutrition are now at risk of dying from an entirely preventable and treatable cause," he warned. Malnutrition rates among children in northern Rakhine were already above emergency thresholds before the latest crisis erupted. "The condition of these children has further deteriorated due to the long journey across the border and the conditions in the camps," the UNICEF statement said. Some 26,000 people now live in the Kutupalong camp, where they are faced with an acute shortage of food and water, unsanitary conditions and high rates of diarrhoea and respiratory infections, the agency said. UNICEF said it was planning two additional assessments in other sites in Cox's Bazar this month, including at a makeshift settlement, to help determine if the numbers found in Kutupalong might apply to the entire area. "We need far more attention to the crisis, and far more resources for the response," Beigbeder said, stressing that "these children need help right now."

Malnutrition soaring among Rohingya children in Bangladesh: UN

US secretary of state<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-secretary-of-state-expresses-reported-atrocities-against-rohingya-muslims-to-myanmars-army-chief-22998"> Rex Tillerson will visit&nbsp;Myanmar next week,</a> the State Department today to address the Rohingya crisis.

Tillerson&#39;s spokeswoman said <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/considering-sanctions-on-myanmar-over-treatment-of-rohingyas-us-22787">he would visit Naypyidaw on November 15 for talks on</a> &quot;humanitarian crisis in Rakhine State and US support for Burma&#39;s democratic transition.&quot;

Tillerson had spoken to Myanmar&#39;s army chief last week and had expressed concern over reported atrocities against Rohingyas in Rakhine state.

Tillerson urged the army chief, senior general Min Aung Hlaing, to support the Myanmar government in ending the violence and allowing the safe return of ethnic Rohingya who has fled the area.

During his phone call with Min Aung Hlaing, Tillerson had urged the Myanmar military to facilitate humanitarian aid for displaced people, allow media access and cooperate with a U.N. investigation into allegations of human rights abuses

There were reports of the US State Department considering formally declaring the crackdown on Rohingyas&nbsp;as &quot;ethnic cleansing&quot;, a move which was earlier made by the UN.

Pressure has mounted for a tougher US response to the Rohingya crisis ahead of President Donald Trump&rsquo;s maiden visit to Asia next month when he will attend a summit of Southeast Asian countries, including Myanmar, in Manila.

Meanwhile, Myanmar&#39;s de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi today visited areas hit by conflict in the western state of Rakhine for the first time since attacks by militants from the Rohingya Muslim minority two months ago sparked a refugee crisis.

Spokesman Zaw Htay said that she was visiting the troubled border district of Maungdaw, where more than 600,000 members of the stateless Rohingya group have crossed into Bangladesh since August&nbsp;25th.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Tillerson had spoken to Myanmar's army chief last week and had expressed concern over reported atrocities against Rohingyas in Rakhine state.

US secretary of state Rex Tillerson will visit Myanmar next week, the State Department today to address the Rohingya crisis. Tillerson's spokeswoman said he would visit Naypyidaw on November 15 for talks on "humanitarian crisis in Rakhine State and US support for Burma's democratic transition." Tillerson had spoken to Myanmar's army chief last week and had expressed concern over reported atrocities against Rohingyas in Rakhine state. Tillerson urged the army chief, senior general Min Aung Hlaing, to support the Myanmar government in ending the violence and allowing the safe return of ethnic Rohingya who has fled the area. During his phone call with Min Aung Hlaing, Tillerson had urged the Myanmar military to facilitate humanitarian aid for displaced people, allow media access and cooperate with a U.N. investigation into allegations of human rights abuses There were reports of the US State Department considering formally declaring the crackdown on Rohingyas as "ethnic cleansing", a move which was earlier made by the UN. Pressure has mounted for a tougher US response to the Rohingya crisis ahead of President Donald Trump’s maiden visit to Asia next month when he will attend a summit of Southeast Asian countries, including Myanmar, in Manila. Meanwhile, Myanmar's de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi today visited areas hit by conflict in the western state of Rakhine for the first time since attacks by militants from the Rohingya Muslim minority two months ago sparked a refugee crisis. Spokesman Zaw Htay said that she was visiting the troubled border district of Maungdaw, where more than 600,000 members of the stateless Rohingya group have crossed into Bangladesh since August 25th.

Rohingya crisis: Tillerson to visit?Myanmar next week

Myanmar has blamed Bangladesh for delaying the start of a repatriation process for hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslim refugees, saying it feared Dhaka could be stalling until it receives multi-million dollars of international aid money.

More than 600,000 Rohingya have fled predominantly Buddhist Myanmar to neighbouring Bangladesh since late August to escape ethnic violence that accompanied a brutal military counter-insurgency operation after Rohingya militant attacks on security posts in Myanmar&#39;s Rakhine State.

Zaw Htay, a spokesman for Myanmar&#39;s de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, said Myanmar was ready to begin the repatriation process any time, based along the lines of an agreement that covered returns of Rohingya to Myanmar in the early 1990s.

He said Bangladesh had yet to accept those terms.

&quot;We are ready to start, but the other side did not accept yet, and the process was delayed. This is the number one fact,&quot; Zaw Htay, Director-General of the Ministry of the State Counsellor&#39;s Office, told journalists on Tuesday.

A memorandum of understanding on border liaison posts was signed with Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan following talks in the Myanmar capital, Naypyitaw, last week, but there was no progress on reviving the old agreement.

Zaw Htay linked the delay by Bangladesh to the money raised so far by the international community to help build gigantic refugee camps for the Rohingya.

&quot;Currently they have got $400 million. Over their receipt of this amount, we are now afraid of delaying the programme of deporting the refugees,&quot; he said in comments carried in a front-page article in the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper on Wednesday.

&quot;They have got international subsidies. We are now afraid they would have another consideration as to repatriation,&quot; he said.

Bangladesh government issued a statement last Thursday saying that Myanmar had not agreed to 10 points put forward by its minister at last week&#39;s talks, including the full implementation of the recommendations of an Advisory Commission on Rakhine State, chaired by former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, for a sustainable return of Rohingya.

Khan told Bangladesh media last Friday that the two sides were unable to form a joint working group but said it should be set up by the time Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali goes to Myanmar for talks on Nov. 30.

The Myanmar government has said it would accept the Rohingya once it was established that they had lived in Myanmar.

Zaw Htay said Myanmar was awaiting a list of Rohingya refugees from the Bangladesh side.

The United Nation&#39;s new interim resident coordinator for Myanmar began his new job on Wednesday. Knut Ostby, a Norwegian, has taken over the humanitarian and diplomatic role at a time of growing strains with the Myanmar government over the handling of the Rohingya crisis.

Meantime, while Myanmar and Bangladesh work out how Rohingya can eventually go home, the grim exodus from Myanmar continues.

Seven Rohingya, including three babies and two children, drowned trying to make the perilous sea crossing up the coast from Myanmar to Bangladesh earlier this week.

Given the horrors endured by many Rohingya now living in refugee camps it would be unsurprising if they were in no hurry to return to their old homes back in Myanmar.

U.N. investigators interviewing Rohingya living in refugee camps in Bangladesh said on Friday they had gathered testimony pointing to a consistent, methodical pattern&nbsp;of killings, torture, rape and arson.

A foremost concern for Myanmar as it prepares to scrutinise any returnees is the risk of Islamist militants sneaking into the country.

The group behind the Aug. 25 attack on around 30 security posts in Rakhine State was the Arakhan Rohingya Salvation Army, but other militant groups have jumped on the plight of the Rohingya to issue a call to arms.

Last week the media arm of Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) released a video to deliver a message from the group&#39;s leader, Abu Syed al-Ansari Abu Syed al-Ansari, repeating calls for a jihad to fight for the Rohingya.

The Myanmar government has said it would accept the Rohingya once it was established that they had lived in Myanmar.

Myanmar has blamed Bangladesh for delaying the start of a repatriation process for hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslim refugees, saying it feared Dhaka could be stalling until it receives multi-million dollars of international aid money. More than 600,000 Rohingya have fled predominantly Buddhist Myanmar to neighbouring Bangladesh since late August to escape ethnic violence that accompanied a brutal military counter-insurgency operation after Rohingya militant attacks on security posts in Myanmar's Rakhine State. Zaw Htay, a spokesman for Myanmar's de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, said Myanmar was ready to begin the repatriation process any time, based along the lines of an agreement that covered returns of Rohingya to Myanmar in the early 1990s. He said Bangladesh had yet to accept those terms. "We are ready to start, but the other side did not accept yet, and the process was delayed. This is the number one fact," Zaw Htay, Director-General of the Ministry of the State Counsellor's Office, told journalists on Tuesday. A memorandum of understanding on border liaison posts was signed with Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan following talks in the Myanmar capital, Naypyitaw, last week, but there was no progress on reviving the old agreement. Zaw Htay linked the delay by Bangladesh to the money raised so far by the international community to help build gigantic refugee camps for the Rohingya. "Currently they have got $400 million. Over their receipt of this amount, we are now afraid of delaying the programme of deporting the refugees," he said in comments carried in a front-page article in the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper on Wednesday. "They have got international subsidies. We are now afraid they would have another consideration as to repatriation," he said. Bangladesh government issued a statement last Thursday saying that Myanmar had not agreed to 10 points put forward by its minister at last week's talks, including the full implementation of the recommendations of an Advisory Commission on Rakhine State, chaired by former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, for a sustainable return of Rohingya. Khan told Bangladesh media last Friday that the two sides were unable to form a joint working group but said it should be set up by the time Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali goes to Myanmar for talks on Nov. 30. The Myanmar government has said it would accept the Rohingya once it was established that they had lived in Myanmar. Zaw Htay said Myanmar was awaiting a list of Rohingya refugees from the Bangladesh side. The United Nation's new interim resident coordinator for Myanmar began his new job on Wednesday. Knut Ostby, a Norwegian, has taken over the humanitarian and diplomatic role at a time of growing strains with the Myanmar government over the handling of the Rohingya crisis. Meantime, while Myanmar and Bangladesh work out how Rohingya can eventually go home, the grim exodus from Myanmar continues. Seven Rohingya, including three babies and two children, drowned trying to make the perilous sea crossing up the coast from Myanmar to Bangladesh earlier this week. Given the horrors endured by many Rohingya now living in refugee camps it would be unsurprising if they were in no hurry to return to their old homes back in Myanmar. U.N. investigators interviewing Rohingya living in refugee camps in Bangladesh said on Friday they had gathered testimony pointing to a consistent, methodical pattern of killings, torture, rape and arson. A foremost concern for Myanmar as it prepares to scrutinise any returnees is the risk of Islamist militants sneaking into the country. The group behind the Aug. 25 attack on around 30 security posts in Rakhine State was the Arakhan Rohingya Salvation Army, but other militant groups have jumped on the plight of the Rohingya to issue a call to arms. Last week the media arm of Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) released a video to deliver a message from the group's leader, Abu Syed al-Ansari Abu Syed al-Ansari, repeating calls for a jihad to fight for the Rohingya.

Myanmar blames Bangladesh for failing to repatriate Rohingyas

Four Rohingya Muslims, a man, woman and two children, drowned when a small wooden fishing boat carrying dozens of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/myanmars-rohingya-crisis-spinning-out-of-control-aid-officials-23017" target="_blank">refugees fleeing ethnic violence in Myanmar </a>capsized off the Bangladesh coast on Tuesday, police said.

People living in the coastal strip south of the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bangladesh-eyes-sterilisation-to-curb-rohingya-population-23059" target="_blank">Bangladesh port of Cox&#39;s Bazar </a>fished 37 survivors out of the water and 11 have been admitted to hospital in a critical condition, Mohammad Abul Khair, the officer in charge at Ukhiya police station, said.

The boat had keeled over in choppy seas as rain fell. According to survivors, they had paid 50,000 kyats ($37) to be taken to Bangladesh. They had abandoned their homes in Buthidaung, in the strife-torn north of Myanmar&#39;s Rakhine State.

More than 600,000 Rohingya have fled to neighbouring Bangladesh since the military in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar launched a counter-insurgency operation after attacks on security posts by Rohingya militants in late August.

United Nations officials have described the Myanmar military&#39;s action as &quot;ethnic cleansing&quot;, an accusation that Myanmar denies.

Many of the Rohingya refugees have made the precarious sea and river crossing to reach the safety of predominately Muslim Bangladesh, though dozens have drowned making the attempt.

People living in the coastal strip south of the Bangladesh port of Cox's Bazar fished 37 survivors out of the water and 11 have been admitted to hospital in a critical condition, Mohammad Abul Khair, the officer in charge at Ukhiya police station, said

Four Rohingya Muslims, a man, woman and two children, drowned when a small wooden fishing boat carrying dozens of refugees fleeing ethnic violence in Myanmar capsized off the Bangladesh coast on Tuesday, police said. People living in the coastal strip south of the Bangladesh port of Cox's Bazar fished 37 survivors out of the water and 11 have been admitted to hospital in a critical condition, Mohammad Abul Khair, the officer in charge at Ukhiya police station, said. The boat had keeled over in choppy seas as rain fell. According to survivors, they had paid 50,000 kyats ($37) to be taken to Bangladesh. They had abandoned their homes in Buthidaung, in the strife-torn north of Myanmar's Rakhine State. More than 600,000 Rohingya have fled to neighbouring Bangladesh since the military in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar launched a counter-insurgency operation after attacks on security posts by Rohingya militants in late August. United Nations officials have described the Myanmar military's action as "ethnic cleansing", an accusation that Myanmar denies. Many of the Rohingya refugees have made the precarious sea and river crossing to reach the safety of predominately Muslim Bangladesh, though dozens have drowned making the attempt.

Rohingyas drown as refugee boat capsizes off Bangladesh

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/himachal-pradesh-polls-bjp-announces-prem-kumar-dhumal-as-partys-chief-ministerial-candidate-23225">Himachal polls: Prem Kumar Dhumal is BJP&#39;s chief ministerial candidate</a>

BJP chief Amit Shah made the announcement at a rally on Tuesday.&nbsp;The polling&nbsp;in Himachal Pradesh will take place on November 9.&nbsp;The BJP is hopeful of getting a clear majority and defeating the incumbent Congress government in the hill state.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-and-pakistan-should-amicably-solve-kashmir-issue-tunisia-23234">India and Pakistan should amicably solve Kashmir issue: Tunisia</a>

India has had an uneasy relationship with&nbsp;the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), but Tunisian foreign minister Khemaies Jhinaoui&rsquo;s latest statement might soon change that.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/china-planning-1000km-tunnel-to-divert-brahmaputra-water-from-tibet-to-xinjiang-23192">China planning 1,000km tunnel to divert Brahmaputra water from Tibet to Xinjiang</a>

The move, that is expected to &ldquo;turn Xinjiang into California&rdquo;, has raised concerns among environmentalists about its likely impact on the Himalayan region.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/high-court-asks-navy-to-consider-transgender-for-alternate-job-23204">Delhi High Court asks Navy to consider transgender for alternate job</a>

&quot;You can punish her for indiscipline, but at the same time, you can accommodate her,&quot; the court stold the Navy. The Navy has removed sailor Manish Giri (now named Sabi)&nbsp;after a sex change operation citing disciplinary issues.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/international-academy-rescinds-spaceys-upcoming-emmy-honour-23188">Kevin Spacey&#39;s upcoming Emmy honour rescinded</a>

The International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences has announced that Kevin Spacey will not receive the Emmy award, which was scheduled to be conferred on the actor this year in wake of the sexual allegations against him by Anthony Rapp.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/four-rohingya-drown-as-refugee-boat-capsizes-off-bangladesh-23209">Rohingyas drown as refugee boat capsizes off Bangladesh</a>

People living in the coastal strip south of the Bangladesh port of Cox Bazar&nbsp;fished 37 survivors out of the water and 11 have been admitted to hospital in a critical condition.

Missed the big stories of the day? Fret not, here is a round up of all the big news events from around the world.

Himachal polls: Prem Kumar Dhumal is BJP's chief ministerial candidate BJP chief Amit Shah made the announcement at a rally on Tuesday. The polling in Himachal Pradesh will take place on November 9. The BJP is hopeful of getting a clear majority and defeating the incumbent Congress government in the hill state. India and Pakistan should amicably solve Kashmir issue: Tunisia India has had an uneasy relationship with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), but Tunisian foreign minister Khemaies Jhinaoui’s latest statement might soon change that. China planning 1,000km tunnel to divert Brahmaputra water from Tibet to Xinjiang The move, that is expected to “turn Xinjiang into California”, has raised concerns among environmentalists about its likely impact on the Himalayan region. Delhi High Court asks Navy to consider transgender for alternate job "You can punish her for indiscipline, but at the same time, you can accommodate her," the court stold the Navy. The Navy has removed sailor Manish Giri (now named Sabi) after a sex change operation citing disciplinary issues. Kevin Spacey's upcoming Emmy honour rescinded The International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences has announced that Kevin Spacey will not receive the Emmy award, which was scheduled to be conferred on the actor this year in wake of the sexual allegations against him by Anthony Rapp. Rohingyas drown as refugee boat capsizes off Bangladesh People living in the coastal strip south of the Bangladesh port of Cox Bazar fished 37 survivors out of the water and 11 have been admitted to hospital in a critical condition.

WION Evening News Brief, October 31

Myanmar&#39;s government began harvesting rice from farmland abandoned by Rohingya in northern Rakhine on Saturday, officials said, a move likely to raise concerns about the prospect of return for more than half a million refugees who have fled communal violence in the area.

The border region has been emptied of most of its Muslim residents since late August when Myanmar&#39;s military launched a crackdown on Rohingya rebels that the UN says likely amounts to ethnic cleansing.

Hundreds of villages have been burned to the ground, with more than 600,000 Rohingya, a stateless group in mainly Buddhist Myanmar, fleeing across the border for sanctuary in Bangladesh.

Under intense global pressure, Myanmar has agreed to repatriate &quot;scrutinised&quot; refugees who can prove their residence in Rakhine.

But details of the plan remain thin, seeding concern about who will be allowed back, what they will return to and how they will live in a region where anti-Rohingya hatred remains sky-high.&nbsp;

On Saturday the government began harvesting 71,000 acres of rice paddy in Maungdaw, the Rohingya-majority area hardest-hit by the violence, according to state media and a local official.&nbsp;

&quot;We started harvesting today in Myo Thu Gyi village tract,&quot; Thein Wai, the head of Maungdaw&#39;s Agricultural Department, told AFP.

&quot;We are going to harvest some paddy fields of Bengalis who fled to Bangladesh,&quot; he said using a pejorative term for the Rohingya commonly used in Myanmar.

&quot;We do not know when those Bengalis who fled to other side will come back. That&#39;s why we have to harvest,&quot; he said, adding that he did not know what government would do with the paddies in the future.&nbsp;

Workers were bused in from other parts of the country to assist with the harvest, according to the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar.

&#39;Deeply disturbed&#39;

Myanmar has denied charges of ethnic cleansing and defended its military campaign as a counter offensive targeting Rohingya militants who attacked police posts in late August, killing at least a dozen.

But media, rights groups, and the UN have documented consistent accounts from Rohingya refugees of atrocities at the hands of Myanmar security officers, who are accused of killing civilians, raping women and torching homes.&nbsp;

On Friday UN rights experts said they were &quot;deeply disturbed&quot; after speaking to refugees in Bangladesh.&nbsp;

The accounts they heard &quot;point to a consistent, methodical pattern of actions resulting in gross human rights violations affecting hundreds of thousands of people,&quot; said Marzuki Darusman, who chairs the fact-finding mission.

Myanmar&#39;s civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi,&nbsp;who has no control over the powerful army, recently created a committee to oversee resettlement in Rakhine, where tens of thousands of other minority groups were also internally displaced by the violence.&nbsp;

The construction of homes for minorities such as the Mro has begun, according to state media, while Suu Kyi&#39;s government has enticed business tycoons to donate to the rebuilding effort.&nbsp;

But fear abounds that the rehabilitation will sideline the Rohingya -- a group that has suffered under decades of state-backed discrimination.

Myanmar refuses to recognise the Rohingya as a distinct minority, rendering the 1.1-million strong group stateless.&nbsp;

The army has spread the view that they are foreign &quot;Bengalis&quot; from Bangladesh, despite many having lived in Myanmar for generations.

On Saturday the government began harvesting 71,000 acres of rice paddy in Maungdaw, the Rohingya-majority area hardest-hit by the violence

Myanmar's government began harvesting rice from farmland abandoned by Rohingya in northern Rakhine on Saturday, officials said, a move likely to raise concerns about the prospect of return for more than half a million refugees who have fled communal violence in the area. The border region has been emptied of most of its Muslim residents since late August when Myanmar's military launched a crackdown on Rohingya rebels that the UN says likely amounts to ethnic cleansing. Hundreds of villages have been burned to the ground, with more than 600,000 Rohingya, a stateless group in mainly Buddhist Myanmar, fleeing across the border for sanctuary in Bangladesh. Under intense global pressure, Myanmar has agreed to repatriate "scrutinised" refugees who can prove their residence in Rakhine. But details of the plan remain thin, seeding concern about who will be allowed back, what they will return to and how they will live in a region where anti-Rohingya hatred remains sky-high. On Saturday the government began harvesting 71,000 acres of rice paddy in Maungdaw, the Rohingya-majority area hardest-hit by the violence, according to state media and a local official. "We started harvesting today in Myo Thu Gyi village tract," Thein Wai, the head of Maungdaw's Agricultural Department, told AFP. "We are going to harvest some paddy fields of Bengalis who fled to Bangladesh," he said using a pejorative term for the Rohingya commonly used in Myanmar. "We do not know when those Bengalis who fled to other side will come back. That's why we have to harvest," he said, adding that he did not know what government would do with the paddies in the future. Workers were bused in from other parts of the country to assist with the harvest, according to the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar. 'Deeply disturbed' Myanmar has denied charges of ethnic cleansing and defended its military campaign as a counter offensive targeting Rohingya militants who attacked police posts in late August, killing at least a dozen. But media, rights groups, and the UN have documented consistent accounts from Rohingya refugees of atrocities at the hands of Myanmar security officers, who are accused of killing civilians, raping women and torching homes. On Friday UN rights experts said they were "deeply disturbed" after speaking to refugees in Bangladesh. The accounts they heard "point to a consistent, methodical pattern of actions resulting in gross human rights violations affecting hundreds of thousands of people," said Marzuki Darusman, who chairs the fact-finding mission. Myanmar's civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has no control over the powerful army, recently created a committee to oversee resettlement in Rakhine, where tens of thousands of other minority groups were also internally displaced by the violence. The construction of homes for minorities such as the Mro has begun, according to state media, while Suu Kyi's government has enticed business tycoons to donate to the rebuilding effort. But fear abounds that the rehabilitation will sideline the Rohingya -- a group that has suffered under decades of state-backed discrimination. Myanmar refuses to recognise the Rohingya as a distinct minority, rendering the 1.1-million strong group stateless. The army has spread the view that they are foreign "Bengalis" from Bangladesh, despite many having lived in Myanmar for generations.

Myanmar govt harvests abandoned Rohingya fields, raising fears over refugees' return

The US wants Myanmar to set conditions for the return of Rohingya Muslims as it believes that this &quot;humanitarian catastrophe&quot; can be used by some as a way to foment hatred along religious lines and then violence, a senior Trump administration official has said.

Nearly 600,000 minority Rohingya Muslims have fled to Bangladesh since late August to escape violence in Myanmar&#39;s Rakhine State where the army has launched a crackdown against militants.

Myanmar does not recognise Rohingya as an ethnic group and insists that they are Bangladeshi migrants living illegally in the country.

&quot;It is a very significant humanitarian and security concern. Because there are those who will use this humanitarian catastrophe as a way to foment hatred along religious lines and then violence,&quot; the senior administration official said.

&quot;So, it&#39;s important for Myanmar to do more, to set conditions for the return of refugees,&quot; said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

As such it is important for the international communities to do everything they can to alleviate the tremendous humanitarian suffering and to ensure that basic services, including education for children, are met.

Meanwhile, the US government yesterday announced to have provided nearly US $40 million in life-saving emergency assistance in direct response to the Rakhine State crisis since August 25.

This brings the total US humanitarian assistance in 2017 to the displaced in Myanmar and the region to nearly US $104 million, the State Department said.

The US assistance goes to its international organisation partners on the ground, including the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Children&#39;s Fund (UNICEF), the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the World Food Programme (WFP).

The organisations help in providing protection, emergency shelter, food and nutritional assistance, as well as health care and psychosocial support for the more than half a million displaced refugees in Myanmar, Bangladesh, and the region.

&quot;We applaud Bangladesh&#39;s government generosity in responding to this severe humanitarian crisis and appreciate its continued efforts to ensure assistance reaches people in need,&quot; the department said.

Welcoming Myanmar&#39;s commitment in bringing long-term peace and stability to Rakhine State by implementing the recommendations of the Kofi Annan-led Special Advisory Commission report, the department in a statement called for an immediate end to the violence in northern Rakhine State and for the Myanmar&#39;s government to allow refugees to return home voluntarily, safely and with dignity.

US believes that this 'humanitarian catastrophe' can be used by some as a way to foment hatred along religious lines and then violence, a senior Trump administration official has said

The US wants Myanmar to set conditions for the return of Rohingya Muslims as it believes that this "humanitarian catastrophe" can be used by some as a way to foment hatred along religious lines and then violence, a senior Trump administration official has said. Nearly 600,000 minority Rohingya Muslims have fled to Bangladesh since late August to escape violence in Myanmar's Rakhine State where the army has launched a crackdown against militants. Myanmar does not recognise Rohingya as an ethnic group and insists that they are Bangladeshi migrants living illegally in the country. "It is a very significant humanitarian and security concern. Because there are those who will use this humanitarian catastrophe as a way to foment hatred along religious lines and then violence," the senior administration official said. "So, it's important for Myanmar to do more, to set conditions for the return of refugees," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. As such it is important for the international communities to do everything they can to alleviate the tremendous humanitarian suffering and to ensure that basic services, including education for children, are met. Meanwhile, the US government yesterday announced to have provided nearly US $40 million in life-saving emergency assistance in direct response to the Rakhine State crisis since August 25. This brings the total US humanitarian assistance in 2017 to the displaced in Myanmar and the region to nearly US $104 million, the State Department said. The US assistance goes to its international organisation partners on the ground, including the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the World Food Programme (WFP). The organisations help in providing protection, emergency shelter, food and nutritional assistance, as well as health care and psychosocial support for the more than half a million displaced refugees in Myanmar, Bangladesh, and the region. "We applaud Bangladesh's government generosity in responding to this severe humanitarian crisis and appreciate its continued efforts to ensure assistance reaches people in need," the department said. Welcoming Myanmar's commitment in bringing long-term peace and stability to Rakhine State by implementing the recommendations of the Kofi Annan-led Special Advisory Commission report, the department in a statement called for an immediate end to the violence in northern Rakhine State and for the Myanmar's government to allow refugees to return home voluntarily, safely and with dignity.

US wants Myanmar to set conditions for return of Rohingya

External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj discussed&nbsp;the issue of Rohingya exodus in her meeting with&nbsp;Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday.

Sushma Swaraj discussed the situation arising&nbsp;out of the&nbsp;influx of&nbsp;displacement of the Muslim minority population and&nbsp;the&nbsp;need for an early&nbsp;solution to it.&nbsp;

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EAM Sushma Swaraj discussed situation arising out of influx of displaced persons from Rakhine State &amp; need for early &amp; lasting solution: MEA
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She also discussed ways to deepen her partnership with the country.&nbsp;

She praised PM Sheikh Hasina&#39;s of productive discussions at the Bangladesh-India Joint Consultative Commission (JCC) meeting&nbsp;and also the progress made by her since her visit to India.&nbsp;

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EAM Sushma Swaraj apprised PM Sheikh Hasina of productive discussions at the JCC and tangible progress made since her visit to India: MEA <a href="https://t.co/LrW55JBOXD">pic.twitter.com/LrW55JBOXD</a>
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Swaraj met with the prime minister&nbsp;after her meeting with the country&#39;s foreign minister AH Mahmood Ali.

In the fourth JCC&nbsp;meeting, she discussed the exodus of Rohingyas in Rakhine, the challenges of terrorism, radicalisation and extremism with her counterpart.

The external affairs minister expressed her concern at the violence against the Rohingyas in Rakhine. 
 
&nbsp;&quot;India is deeply concerned at the spate of violence in the Rakhine State of Myanmar. We have urged that the situation be handled with restraint, keeping in mind the welfare of the population,&quot; she said.

On terrorism, the external affairs minister said, &quot;We will continue to fight this scourge together and along with other like-minded&nbsp;countries.&quot;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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We will continue to fight this scourge together and along with other like minded countries: EAM Sushma Swaraj in Dhaka, Bangladesh
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Sushma Swaraj added that she was determined to adopt a zero-tolerance policy against the ideologies of hate, violence, and terror.

She also focused on a comprehensive approach to fighting&nbsp;violent extremism and terrorism.

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We are determined to protect our societies from threat of ideologies of hate, violence and terror by adopting a zero tolerance policy: EAM
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(cont) and a comprehensive approach in fighting violent extremism and terrorism at all levels: EAM Sushma Swaraj in Dhaka, Bangladesh <a href="https://t.co/W6eROF6f2W">pic.twitter.com/W6eROF6f2W</a>
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She also assured that besides the bilateral relationship she is also working towards resolving&nbsp;outstanding issues.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sushma Swaraj is on a two-day visit to Bangladesh.

She was earlier welcomed by the Bangladesh foreign minister AH Mahmood Ali and High commissioner of India.&nbsp;

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EAM Sushma Swaraj arrived in Dhaka, greeted by <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bangladesh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bangladesh</a> Foreign Min AH Mahmood Ali &amp; High Commissioner Of India (Earlier visuals) <a href="https://t.co/G2EAKknJHe">pic.twitter.com/G2EAKknJHe</a>
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&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dhaka?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dhaka</a>: EAM Sushma Swaraj &amp; FM of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bangladesh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bangladesh</a> co-chaired 4th JCC Meeting &amp; reviewed various aspects of bilateral relations. <a href="https://t.co/NVckYBjAVZ">pic.twitter.com/NVckYBjAVZ</a>
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The third JCC meeting was held in New Delhi in 2014.

This is Swaraj&#39;s second visit to Bangladesh.Earlier&nbsp;she visited the country in 2014.&nbsp;

External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj discussed?the issue of Rohingya displacement in her meeting with?Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday

External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj discussed the issue of Rohingya exodus in her meeting with Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday. Sushma Swaraj discussed the situation arising out of the influx of displacement of the Muslim minority population and the need for an early solution to it. EAM Sushma Swaraj discussed situation arising out of influx of displaced persons from Rakhine State & need for early & lasting solution: MEA — ANI (@ANI) October 22, 2017 × She also discussed ways to deepen her partnership with the country. She praised PM Sheikh Hasina's of productive discussions at the Bangladesh-India Joint Consultative Commission (JCC) meeting and also the progress made by her since her visit to India. EAM Sushma Swaraj apprised PM Sheikh Hasina of productive discussions at the JCC and tangible progress made since her visit to India: MEA pic.twitter.com/LrW55JBOXD — ANI (@ANI) October 22, 2017 × Swaraj met with the prime minister after her meeting with the country's foreign minister AH Mahmood Ali. In the fourth JCC meeting, she discussed the exodus of Rohingyas in Rakhine, the challenges of terrorism, radicalisation and extremism with her counterpart. The external affairs minister expressed her concern at the violence against the Rohingyas in Rakhine. "India is deeply concerned at the spate of violence in the Rakhine State of Myanmar. We have urged that the situation be handled with restraint, keeping in mind the welfare of the population," she said. On terrorism, the external affairs minister said, "We will continue to fight this scourge together and along with other like-minded countries." We will continue to fight this scourge together and along with other like minded countries: EAM Sushma Swaraj in Dhaka, Bangladesh — ANI (@ANI) October 22, 2017 × Sushma Swaraj added that she was determined to adopt a zero-tolerance policy against the ideologies of hate, violence, and terror. She also focused on a comprehensive approach to fighting violent extremism and terrorism. We are determined to protect our societies from threat of ideologies of hate, violence and terror by adopting a zero tolerance policy: EAM — ANI (@ANI) October 22, 2017 × (cont) and a comprehensive approach in fighting violent extremism and terrorism at all levels: EAM Sushma Swaraj in Dhaka, Bangladesh pic.twitter.com/W6eROF6f2W — ANI (@ANI) October 22, 2017 × She also assured that besides the bilateral relationship she is also working towards resolving outstanding issues. Sushma Swaraj is on a two-day visit to Bangladesh. She was earlier welcomed by the Bangladesh foreign minister AH Mahmood Ali and High commissioner of India. EAM Sushma Swaraj arrived in Dhaka, greeted by #Bangladesh Foreign Min AH Mahmood Ali & High Commissioner Of India (Earlier visuals) pic.twitter.com/G2EAKknJHe — ANI (@ANI) October 22, 2017 × #Dhaka: EAM Sushma Swaraj & FM of #Bangladesh co-chaired 4th JCC Meeting & reviewed various aspects of bilateral relations. pic.twitter.com/NVckYBjAVZ — ANI (@ANI) October 22, 2017 × The third JCC meeting was held in New Delhi in 2014. This is Swaraj's second visit to Bangladesh.Earlier she visited the country in 2014.

'Normalcy will only be restored with return of displaced people to Rakhine': Sushma Swaraj

Secretary of state &nbsp;Rex Tillerson said <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-takes-first-step-towards-calming-communal-hatred-21228">Myanmar&#39;s military was responsible for the Rohingya crisis</a>, stopping short of saying whether the US would take action against the leadership in the country.

&quot;The world can&#39;t just stand idly<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bangladesh-for-greater-indian-role-to-contain-rohingya-influx-22532"> by and be witness to the atrocities that are being </a>reported in the area,&quot; he said while speaking at Washington&#39;s Center for Strategic and International Studies.

On Tuesday, the UN said between 10,000 to 15,000 new Rohingya refugees arrived at the Bangladesh border informing that at least 582,000 Rohingyas have fled Myanmar so far with several thousands still stranded at the border.

Last week the United Nations had said over 11,000 Rohingyas had crossed into Bangladesh in one day after the rate of influx had slowed to 2,000 per day.

&quot;We really hold the military leadership accountable for what&#39;s happening,&quot; the US secretary of state said.

The United States had had earlier accused Myanmar of &quot;ethnic cleansing&quot; of minority Rohingya Muslims, saying the bloodshed in Rakhine state had shamed Aung Sang Suu Kyi&#39;s government.

&quot;Someone, if these reports are true, is going to be held to account for that,&quot; Tillerson said.&nbsp;

&quot;And it&rsquo;s up to the military leadership of Myanmar to decide, &#39;What direction do they want to play in the future of Myanmar?&quot; he asserted.

Last week the United Nations had said over 11,000 Rohingyas had crossed into Bangladesh in one day

Secretary of state Rex Tillerson said Myanmar's military was responsible for the Rohingya crisis, stopping short of saying whether the US would take action against the leadership in the country. "The world can't just stand idly by and be witness to the atrocities that are being reported in the area," he said while speaking at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies. On Tuesday, the UN said between 10,000 to 15,000 new Rohingya refugees arrived at the Bangladesh border informing that at least 582,000 Rohingyas have fled Myanmar so far with several thousands still stranded at the border. Last week the United Nations had said over 11,000 Rohingyas had crossed into Bangladesh in one day after the rate of influx had slowed to 2,000 per day. "We really hold the military leadership accountable for what's happening," the US secretary of state said. The United States had had earlier accused Myanmar of "ethnic cleansing" of minority Rohingya Muslims, saying the bloodshed in Rakhine state had shamed Aung Sang Suu Kyi's government. "Someone, if these reports are true, is going to be held to account for that," Tillerson said. "And it’s up to the military leadership of Myanmar to decide, 'What direction do they want to play in the future of Myanmar?" he asserted.

Myanmar military responsible for Rohingya crisis: US

Bangladesh today pitched for a greater Indian role in containing the influx of Rohingya Muslims escaping violence in Myanmar, saying the issue may not be directly affecting India now, but it may have an impact in future.

Bangladesh&#39;s High Commissioner to India Syed Muazzem Ali said the &quot;fire in the neighbourhood&quot; has the potential to engulf the entire region and it would be prudent for India to act in &quot;mutual interest&quot;.

&quot;It is a fire in our neighbourhood and before it engulfs in the entire region it needs to be put out. They (the refugees) are vulnerable to all sorts of radicalisation and it is in our mutual advantage to work together,&quot; Ali told reporters at the Foreign Correspondents&#39; Club here.

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<h5>Ali refused to comment on India&#39;s proposal to deport around 40,000 Rohingya refugees who are settled in camps across the country, saying it was a &#39;matter of your country&#39;</h5>
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Responding to a question, he said New Delhi and Dhaka may not appear on the same page on the issue as Myanmar&#39;s Rakhine State, the epicentre of the refugee exodus, does not have a common border with India.

&quot;You are safe for now but how long will that be? It is in our common interest to act together. It may burn my house today, but it may surely have an impact in your house tomorrow,&quot; he said, while applauding India&#39;s role in sending relief for the refugees housed in a number of camps in Bangladesh&#39;s Cox&#39;s Bazar area.

He refused to comment on India&#39;s proposal to deport around 40,000 Rohingya refugees who are settled in camps across the country, saying it was a &quot;matter of your country&quot;.

However, he reminded that &quot;60 per cent&quot; of the refugees who have crossed over to Bangladesh were women, children and elderly and living in &quot;unacceptable conditions&quot;.

He called the Rakhine State a breeding ground of radicalisation owing to alleged atrocities on the Rohingya community and their festering anger.

He suggested that reports of bodies of Hindu Rohingya people found in mass graves were an attempt by the Myanmar administration to &quot;intentionally&quot; drive a wedge between communities.

&quot;It is the inability of the Myanmarese authorities to recognise them (the Rohingya) as their own which is creating issues. The problem originated in Myanmar and needs to be resolved there,&quot; he said.

Referring to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj&#39;s upcoming visit to Dhaka, Ali said water sharing is one of the very few areas of common interest between the two countries which remains contentious.

&quot;The sooner we resolve the issue the better,&quot; he said.

In an oblique reference to West Bengal&#39;s position on the issue that during the lean season water availability in Teesta river was not enough to share, he said: &quot;It is like a person calling himself orphan after killing his own parents.&quot;&nbsp;

Bangladesh's High Commissioner to India said the 'fire in the neighbourhood' has the potential to engulf the entire region and it would be prudent for India to act in 'mutual interest'

Bangladesh today pitched for a greater Indian role in containing the influx of Rohingya Muslims escaping violence in Myanmar, saying the issue may not be directly affecting India now, but it may have an impact in future. Bangladesh's High Commissioner to India Syed Muazzem Ali said the "fire in the neighbourhood" has the potential to engulf the entire region and it would be prudent for India to act in "mutual interest". "It is a fire in our neighbourhood and before it engulfs in the entire region it needs to be put out. They (the refugees) are vulnerable to all sorts of radicalisation and it is in our mutual advantage to work together," Ali told reporters at the Foreign Correspondents' Club here. Ali refused to comment on India's proposal to deport around 40,000 Rohingya refugees who are settled in camps across the country, saying it was a 'matter of your country' × Responding to a question, he said New Delhi and Dhaka may not appear on the same page on the issue as Myanmar's Rakhine State, the epicentre of the refugee exodus, does not have a common border with India. "You are safe for now but how long will that be? It is in our common interest to act together. It may burn my house today, but it may surely have an impact in your house tomorrow," he said, while applauding India's role in sending relief for the refugees housed in a number of camps in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar area. He refused to comment on India's proposal to deport around 40,000 Rohingya refugees who are settled in camps across the country, saying it was a "matter of your country". However, he reminded that "60 per cent" of the refugees who have crossed over to Bangladesh were women, children and elderly and living in "unacceptable conditions". He called the Rakhine State a breeding ground of radicalisation owing to alleged atrocities on the Rohingya community and their festering anger. He suggested that reports of bodies of Hindu Rohingya people found in mass graves were an attempt by the Myanmar administration to "intentionally" drive a wedge between communities. "It is the inability of the Myanmarese authorities to recognise them (the Rohingya) as their own which is creating issues. The problem originated in Myanmar and needs to be resolved there," he said. Referring to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's upcoming visit to Dhaka, Ali said water sharing is one of the very few areas of common interest between the two countries which remains contentious. "The sooner we resolve the issue the better," he said. In an oblique reference to West Bengal's position on the issue that during the lean season water availability in Teesta river was not enough to share, he said: "It is like a person calling himself orphan after killing his own parents."

Bangladesh for greater Indian role to contain Rohingya influx

Ahead of the China&#39;s Communist <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-has-lessons-to-learn-from-chinas-poverty-reduction-campaign-china-daily-22407">party&#39;s meeting on Wednesday to nominate President Xi f</a>or the next five years, the country&#39;s state-run daily waded into the Rohingya crisis emphasizing India and China are well &quot;aware of the complexity of the Rakhine ethnic and religious conflict&quot; and in a position &quot;to solve the ongoing Rohingya crisis&quot;&nbsp;in Myanmar. &nbsp;

&nbsp;&quot;As Myanmar&#39;s neighbours, t<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/rohingya-fleeing-myanmar-say-army-redoubling-push-to-clear-villages-21005">he last thing China and India want is terrorist violence on their</a> doorstep,&quot; the editorial said.

The op-ed piece pointed to <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/rohingya-fleeing-myanmar-say-army-redoubling-push-to-clear-villages-21005">PM Modi&#39;s visit to Myanmar last month during which</a> India and Myanmar signed a number of trade and defense deals as proof of Myanmar&#39;s growing relevance to India.

&quot;China&#39;s investment in Myanmar reached $18.53 billion in January 2017 and the country plays a unique role in Beijing&#39;s Belt and Road initiative. It is impossible for Beijing to remain indifferent,&quot; the Global Times editorial said.

The daily said India could not &quot;divorce itself from peace and stability in a nation that forms a bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia.&quot;

&quot;Although India has not yet joined the Belt and Road, it prizes its Act East policy that seeks to reinvigorate cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian nations,&quot; the op-ed piece said

&quot;Needless to say Myanmar, the gateway for New Delhi&#39;s northeastern states to Southeast Asia, is crucial to India,&quot; the editorial added.&nbsp;

&quot;Given the interests Beijing and New Delhi share with the region, the two could cooperate in offering humanitarian aid to Rakhine state, assisting Bangladesh in the resettlement of refugees, enhancing economic cooperation with Myanmar and promoting greater integration of trade and investment.&quot;

The editorial said &quot;such actions&quot; by China and India to help resolve the Rohingya crisis &quot;may even elicit support from more ASEAN nations.&quot;

&quot;Myanmar is not a new battleground. In fact, it is a &quot;new opportunity&quot;, the op-ed said in the end.

?"As Myanmar's neighbours, the last thing China and India want is terrorist violence on their doorstep," the editorial said.

Ahead of the China's Communist party's meeting on Wednesday to nominate President Xi for the next five years, the country's state-run daily waded into the Rohingya crisis emphasizing India and China are well "aware of the complexity of the Rakhine ethnic and religious conflict" and in a position "to solve the ongoing Rohingya crisis" in Myanmar. "As Myanmar's neighbours, the last thing China and India want is terrorist violence on their doorstep," the editorial said. The op-ed piece pointed to PM Modi's visit to Myanmar last month during which India and Myanmar signed a number of trade and defense deals as proof of Myanmar's growing relevance to India. "China's investment in Myanmar reached $18.53 billion in January 2017 and the country plays a unique role in Beijing's Belt and Road initiative. It is impossible for Beijing to remain indifferent," the Global Times editorial said. The daily said India could not "divorce itself from peace and stability in a nation that forms a bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia." "Although India has not yet joined the Belt and Road, it prizes its Act East policy that seeks to reinvigorate cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian nations," the op-ed piece said "Needless to say Myanmar, the gateway for New Delhi's northeastern states to Southeast Asia, is crucial to India," the editorial added. "Given the interests Beijing and New Delhi share with the region, the two could cooperate in offering humanitarian aid to Rakhine state, assisting Bangladesh in the resettlement of refugees, enhancing economic cooperation with Myanmar and promoting greater integration of trade and investment." The editorial said "such actions" by China and India to help resolve the Rohingya crisis "may even elicit support from more ASEAN nations." "Myanmar is not a new battleground. In fact, it is a "new opportunity", the op-ed said in the end.

China, India can lead efforts to solve Rohingya crisis: China daily

Bangladesh has tightened security along its western border with India amid concern that hundreds of Rohingya Muslim refugees could be pushed into its territory, officials said Sunday.

Patrols have been stepped up along the frontier with India&#39;s West Bengal state, where border guards say they have been ordered in recent weeks to steer Rohingya into Bangladesh.

Tariqul Hakim, an area commander of the Border Guard Bangladesh, said Rohingya could be seen gathering opposite the Putkhali frontier post, where just a narrow river divides the two countries.

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<h5>We have stepped up surveillance and patrols so that no Rohingya can be pushed into our territory,&#39; Lieutenant Colonel Hakim said</h5>
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&quot;We have stepped up surveillance and patrols so that no Rohingya can be pushed into our territory,&quot; Lieutenant Colonel Hakim told AFP.

There are 40,000 Rohingya in India but the Indian government wants them deported, telling a top court last month they pose a security threat.

Hakim said Rohingya communities inside India could be trying to reunite with their families in southeast Bangladesh, where more than half a million Rohingya refugees have arrived since August from Myanmar.

An estimated 536,000 refugees have crossed since August 25, fleeing violence in western Myanmar described by the United Nations as ethnic cleansing.

An Indian border guard in West Bengal told AFP that patrols had previously turned over all Rohingya intercepted at the frontier to local police.

&quot;But now our directions are very clear, and that is to push all Rohingya into Bangladesh,&quot; he told AFP on condition of anonymity.

&quot;We are trying to accomplish our task with active local support&quot;.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/india-building-pressure-on-myanmar-to-stop-persecution-of-rohingyas-confirms-bangladesh-20243" target="_blank">Also read:&nbsp;India building pressure on Myanmar to stop persecution of Rohingyas, confirms Bangladesh</a>

A Bangladesh border guard official, Abdul Hossain, said villages along the frontier were on high alert, with newly-arrived refugees saying they had been encouraged by Indian guards to cross the border.

&quot;We&#39;ve been patrolling the border day and night to prevent their entry. Local villagers have also joined us in the patrols,&quot; Hossain told AFP.

Local council member Nazrul Islam said more than a dozen Rohingya who crossed at a southwestern part of the frontier Friday reported Indian guards opening a section of barbed wire to allow them to pass easily.

Bangladesh already hosts at least 800,000 Rohingya, including those who fled earlier crackdowns in Myanmar, and does not want to accept any from India.&nbsp;

It is trying to repatriate the Rohingya to Myanmar. But the stateless Muslim minority are reviled in the mainly Buddhist nation and considered to be illegal immigrants.

The unprecedented influx of refugees has put immense pressure on Bangladeshi authorities and charities, who have described the crisis as one of the world&#39;s most pressing humanitarian emergencies.

Also watch below:&nbsp; Nowhere men, the Rohingya of Myanmar

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Some 40,000 of the world&#39;s &#39;most persecuted minority&#39; live in India (WION)
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The country is concerned India might try to push its Rohingya into Bangladeshi territory

Bangladesh has tightened security along its western border with India amid concern that hundreds of Rohingya Muslim refugees could be pushed into its territory, officials said Sunday. Patrols have been stepped up along the frontier with India's West Bengal state, where border guards say they have been ordered in recent weeks to steer Rohingya into Bangladesh. Tariqul Hakim, an area commander of the Border Guard Bangladesh, said Rohingya could be seen gathering opposite the Putkhali frontier post, where just a narrow river divides the two countries. We have stepped up surveillance and patrols so that no Rohingya can be pushed into our territory,' Lieutenant Colonel Hakim said × "We have stepped up surveillance and patrols so that no Rohingya can be pushed into our territory," Lieutenant Colonel Hakim told AFP. There are 40,000 Rohingya in India but the Indian government wants them deported, telling a top court last month they pose a security threat. Hakim said Rohingya communities inside India could be trying to reunite with their families in southeast Bangladesh, where more than half a million Rohingya refugees have arrived since August from Myanmar. An estimated 536,000 refugees have crossed since August 25, fleeing violence in western Myanmar described by the United Nations as ethnic cleansing. An Indian border guard in West Bengal told AFP that patrols had previously turned over all Rohingya intercepted at the frontier to local police. "But now our directions are very clear, and that is to push all Rohingya into Bangladesh," he told AFP on condition of anonymity. "We are trying to accomplish our task with active local support". Also read: India building pressure on Myanmar to stop persecution of Rohingyas, confirms Bangladesh A Bangladesh border guard official, Abdul Hossain, said villages along the frontier were on high alert, with newly-arrived refugees saying they had been encouraged by Indian guards to cross the border. "We've been patrolling the border day and night to prevent their entry. Local villagers have also joined us in the patrols," Hossain told AFP. Local council member Nazrul Islam said more than a dozen Rohingya who crossed at a southwestern part of the frontier Friday reported Indian guards opening a section of barbed wire to allow them to pass easily. Bangladesh already hosts at least 800,000 Rohingya, including those who fled earlier crackdowns in Myanmar, and does not want to accept any from India. It is trying to repatriate the Rohingya to Myanmar. But the stateless Muslim minority are reviled in the mainly Buddhist nation and considered to be illegal immigrants. The unprecedented influx of refugees has put immense pressure on Bangladeshi authorities and charities, who have described the crisis as one of the world's most pressing humanitarian emergencies. Also watch below: Nowhere men, the Rohingya of Myanmar Some 40,000 of the world's 'most persecuted minority' live in India (WION) ×

Bangladesh steps up security on India border over Rohingya fears

The Supreme Court said today the Indian government must balance national security with humanity and directed the Centre not to deport&nbsp;Rohingyas till the case is heard.

India&#39;s top court said Rohingya Muslims issue is of &quot;great magnitude&quot; and the state has a big role to play.

In their petition, the two Rohingya immigrants, Mohammad Salimullah and Mohammad Shaqir, argued that they had taken refuge in India after escaping from Myanmar due to widespread discrimination, violence and bloodshed against the community there.&nbsp;

They contend that many Rohingyas, who had fled to India after the earlier spate of violence, are settled in Jammu, Hyderabad, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi-NCR and Rajasthan.&nbsp;

The Indian government had earlier told the apex court that besides being a security threat because of links to the ISI and the IS, Rohingyas will exhaust natural resources meant for Indian citizens resulting in hostility and social tensions.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/no-links-with-is-isi-rohingya-refugee-to-supreme-court-20549">Another Rohingya refugee then filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;denying the Indian government&#39;s claims that the Muslim community from Myanmar has terror links with Pakistan&#39;s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Islamic State.

The affidavit stated that the Rohingyas should be treated at par with Tibetan and Sri Lankan refugees.

Supreme Court has granted&nbsp;more time to all the parties to argue and posted the matter for further hearing on November 21.

India's top court said Rohingya Muslims issue is of "great magnitude" and the state has a big role to play.

The Supreme Court said today the Indian government must balance national security with humanity and directed the Centre not to deport Rohingyas till the case is heard. India's top court said Rohingya Muslims issue is of "great magnitude" and the state has a big role to play. In their petition, the two Rohingya immigrants, Mohammad Salimullah and Mohammad Shaqir, argued that they had taken refuge in India after escaping from Myanmar due to widespread discrimination, violence and bloodshed against the community there. They contend that many Rohingyas, who had fled to India after the earlier spate of violence, are settled in Jammu, Hyderabad, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi-NCR and Rajasthan. The Indian government had earlier told the apex court that besides being a security threat because of links to the ISI and the IS, Rohingyas will exhaust natural resources meant for Indian citizens resulting in hostility and social tensions. Another Rohingya refugee then filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court denying the Indian government's claims that the Muslim community from Myanmar has terror links with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Islamic State. The affidavit stated that the Rohingyas should be treated at par with Tibetan and Sri Lankan refugees. Supreme Court has granted more time to all the parties to argue and posted the matter for further hearing on November 21.

Must balance security with humanity, can't deport Rohingyas till case is heard: Supreme Court to govt

Myanmar launched on Tuesday its first bid to improve relations between followers of different religions since an eruption of deadly violence in August inflamed communal tension and triggered an <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/rohingya-group-urges-bangladesh-to-pressure-myanmar-on-return-to-ancestral-land-12444" target="_blank">exodus of some 520,000 Muslims to Bangladesh</a>.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/rohingya-insurgent-ceasefire-ends-in-myanmar-with-no-report-of-attacks-21212" target="_blank">Rohingya Muslims </a>are still fleeing, more than six weeks after Rohingya insurgents attacked security forces in western Myanmar&#39;s Rakhine State.

The United Nations has denounced a ferocious military crackdown in response to the attacks as ethnic cleansing aimed at driving out Rohingya.

A new surge of refugees has entered Bangladesh in recent days, including about 11,000 on Monday. Some have told of increasing hunger in Rakhine State as well as of more mob attacks on Muslim villagers.

Despite growing international condemnation of the refugee crisis, the military campaign is popular in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, where there is little sympathy for the Rohingya, and for Muslims in general, and where Buddhist nationalism has surged in recent years.

The party of government leader Aung San Suu Kyi took the first step towards trying to calm communal animosity with inter-faith prayers at a stadium in the biggest city of Yangon, with Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus and Christians.

&quot;This is for peace and stability,&quot; party spokesman Aung Shin told Reuters. &quot;Peace in Rakhine and peace nationwide.&quot;

Traffic was jammed around the stadium as Buddhist monks had nuns packed the stands inside, along with thousands of others.

The Rohingya had pinned hopes for change on Suu Kyi&#39;s party but it has been wary of Buddhist nationalist pressure. Her party did not field a single Muslim candidate in the 2015 election that it swept.

Rohingya are not classified as an indigenous minority in Myanmar and so are denied citizenship under a law that links nationality to ethnicity.

Regarded as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, they face restrictions and discrimination and are derided by ethnic Rakhine Buddhists in Rakhine State, and by much of the wider population.

The militants of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) who launched the Aug. 25 attacks that triggered the latest spasm of violence are demanding full citizenship rights and recognition as an indigenous community.

Ceasefire ends

A one-month ceasefire the insurgents called in September in order, they said, to ease aid deliveries to Rakhine State, expired at midnight on Monday, but authorities said there was no sign of any new attacks.

The government rebuffed the ceasefire, saying it did not negotiate with terrorists.

Myanmar denies ethnic cleansing. It says more than 500 people have been killed in the violence since late August, most of them ARSA &quot;terrorists&quot;.

Even before the government offensive, the small, lightly armed ARSA appeared only capable of hit-and-run raids and unable to mount any sort of sustained challenge to the army.

The insurgents said on Saturday they were ready to respond to any peace move by the government, even though their ceasefire was ending.

The reports of food shortages in Rakhine will add to the urgency of calls by aid agencies and the international community for unfettered humanitarian access to the conflict zone.

Villagers said the food was running out because rice crops were not ready for harvest and authorities had shut village markets and limited food transport, apparently to cut supplies to the militants.

The government has cited worry about food as one of the reasons people have cited for leaving, but a senior state government official on Monday dismissed any suggestion of starvation.

Among those fleeing were more than 30 people on a fishing boat that capsized off the Bangladesh coast on Sunday evening. Twenty-five of them drowned, including 13 children, police said.

The party of government leader Aung San Suu Kyi took the first step towards trying to calm communal animosity with inter-faith prayers at a stadium in the biggest city of Yangon, with Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, and Christians

Myanmar launched on Tuesday its first bid to improve relations between followers of different religions since an eruption of deadly violence in August inflamed communal tension and triggered an exodus of some 520,000 Muslims to Bangladesh. Rohingya Muslims are still fleeing, more than six weeks after Rohingya insurgents attacked security forces in western Myanmar's Rakhine State. The United Nations has denounced a ferocious military crackdown in response to the attacks as ethnic cleansing aimed at driving out Rohingya. A new surge of refugees has entered Bangladesh in recent days, including about 11,000 on Monday. Some have told of increasing hunger in Rakhine State as well as of more mob attacks on Muslim villagers. Despite growing international condemnation of the refugee crisis, the military campaign is popular in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, where there is little sympathy for the Rohingya, and for Muslims in general, and where Buddhist nationalism has surged in recent years. The party of government leader Aung San Suu Kyi took the first step towards trying to calm communal animosity with inter-faith prayers at a stadium in the biggest city of Yangon, with Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus and Christians. "This is for peace and stability," party spokesman Aung Shin told Reuters. "Peace in Rakhine and peace nationwide." Traffic was jammed around the stadium as Buddhist monks had nuns packed the stands inside, along with thousands of others. The Rohingya had pinned hopes for change on Suu Kyi's party but it has been wary of Buddhist nationalist pressure. Her party did not field a single Muslim candidate in the 2015 election that it swept. Rohingya are not classified as an indigenous minority in Myanmar and so are denied citizenship under a law that links nationality to ethnicity. Regarded as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, they face restrictions and discrimination and are derided by ethnic Rakhine Buddhists in Rakhine State, and by much of the wider population. The militants of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) who launched the Aug. 25 attacks that triggered the latest spasm of violence are demanding full citizenship rights and recognition as an indigenous community. Ceasefire ends A one-month ceasefire the insurgents called in September in order, they said, to ease aid deliveries to Rakhine State, expired at midnight on Monday, but authorities said there was no sign of any new attacks. The government rebuffed the ceasefire, saying it did not negotiate with terrorists. Myanmar denies ethnic cleansing. It says more than 500 people have been killed in the violence since late August, most of them ARSA "terrorists". Even before the government offensive, the small, lightly armed ARSA appeared only capable of hit-and-run raids and unable to mount any sort of sustained challenge to the army. The insurgents said on Saturday they were ready to respond to any peace move by the government, even though their ceasefire was ending. The reports of food shortages in Rakhine will add to the urgency of calls by aid agencies and the international community for unfettered humanitarian access to the conflict zone. Villagers said the food was running out because rice crops were not ready for harvest and authorities had shut village markets and limited food transport, apparently to cut supplies to the militants. The government has cited worry about food as one of the reasons people have cited for leaving, but a senior state government official on Monday dismissed any suggestion of starvation. Among those fleeing were more than 30 people on a fishing boat that capsized off the Bangladesh coast on Sunday evening. Twenty-five of them drowned, including 13 children, police said.

Rohingya crisis: Suu Kyi conducts inter-faith prayers in Yangon

United Nation refugee agency reported<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/rohingya-militants-say-ceasefire-to-end-on-october-9-21110"> today over 11,000 Rohingyas crossed into &nbsp;Bangladesh </a>on Monday in a surprising move especially after the rate of influx had slowed to 2,000 per day.

&quot;We&#39;re back in a situation of full alert as far <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/myanmar-12-dead-in-violence-by-rohingya-militants-in-rakhine-19477">as influxes are concerned. It is a big increase to see 11,000</a>,&quot; Adrian Edwards, spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said.

Many of the refugees are reported to come from the Buthidaung area in Myanmar&#39;s northern Rakhine state, which is 20-25 kilometres east of Maungdaw, Reuters reported.

&quot;We have had big numbers coming across by the day over the six weeks of this emergency. So we are back up to approaching some of those peak arrivals. Clearly we have to be prepared for more arrivals,&quot; he said.

&quot;Some said they had fled torching and killings back home; one boy was seen with a big gash across his neck,&quot; Edwards added.

Authorities fear an outbreak of cholera could make matters worse as Bangladesh Cox&#39;s Bazar has seen several thousand refugees arriving in large numbers with poor facilities in most camps with the local administration struggling to put things in order.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Meanwhile, Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi conducted inter-faith prayers at a stadium in the biggest city of Yangon with Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus and Christians in attendance.&nbsp;

International agencies and governments in western nations have strongly condemned Myanmar&#39;s handling of the Rohinga crisis.&nbsp;

The United States had accused Myanmar of &quot;ethnic cleansing&quot; of minority Rohingya Muslims, saying the bloodshed in Rakhine state had shamed Aung Sang Suu Kyi&#39;s government.

&quot;This is for peace and stability,&quot; party spokesman Aung Shin told Reuters after the inter-faith prayers.&nbsp;

&quot;Peace in Rakhine and peace nationwide.&quot;

Many of the refugees are reported to come from the Buthidaung area in Myanmar's northern Rakhine state, which is 20-25 kilometres east of Maungdaw.

United Nation refugee agency reported today over 11,000 Rohingyas crossed into Bangladesh on Monday in a surprising move especially after the rate of influx had slowed to 2,000 per day. "We're back in a situation of full alert as far as influxes are concerned. It is a big increase to see 11,000," Adrian Edwards, spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said. Many of the refugees are reported to come from the Buthidaung area in Myanmar's northern Rakhine state, which is 20-25 kilometres east of Maungdaw, Reuters reported. "We have had big numbers coming across by the day over the six weeks of this emergency. So we are back up to approaching some of those peak arrivals. Clearly we have to be prepared for more arrivals," he said. "Some said they had fled torching and killings back home; one boy was seen with a big gash across his neck," Edwards added. Authorities fear an outbreak of cholera could make matters worse as Bangladesh Cox's Bazar has seen several thousand refugees arriving in large numbers with poor facilities in most camps with the local administration struggling to put things in order. Meanwhile, Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi conducted inter-faith prayers at a stadium in the biggest city of Yangon with Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus and Christians in attendance. International agencies and governments in western nations have strongly condemned Myanmar's handling of the Rohinga crisis. The United States had accused Myanmar of "ethnic cleansing" of minority Rohingya Muslims, saying the bloodshed in Rakhine state had shamed Aung Sang Suu Kyi's government. "This is for peace and stability," party spokesman Aung Shin told Reuters after the inter-faith prayers. "Peace in Rakhine and peace nationwide."

UNHCR on alert as 11,000 Rohingyas cross into Bangladesh in one day

At least 12 people died and scores were missing&nbsp;Monday&nbsp;after <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/rohingya-boat-capsize-death-toll-likely-to-go-up-60-says-un-20832" target="_blank">a boat packed with Rohingya refugees -- many of them children -- capsized</a>, the latest tragedy to strike those fleeing violence in Myanmar&#39;s Rakhine state.

Coast guard and border guard officials said the boat was overloaded with about 100 people when it sank late&nbsp;Sunday&nbsp;in the mouth of the Naf river that separates Myanmar from Bangladesh.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) official Abdul Jalil told AFP 12 bodies had been recovered after an all-night rescue operation, saying &quot;they include 10 children, an elderly woman and a man&quot;.

Area coast guard commander Alauddin Nayan said the boat capsized near the coastal village of Galachar with nearly 100 people on board.

He said some 40 people in the boat were adult Rohingya Muslims fleeing their villages in Rakhine.

&quot;The rest were children,&quot; he said.

Border guard boats have rescued 13 Rohingya including three women and two children after scouring the estuary of the Naf river, Jalil said.

Since the boat capsized near the Myanmar side of the border, Jalil said many may have swum to the Rakhine coast.

The coast guard said the boat sank at around&nbsp;10:00 pm&nbsp;(1600 GMT).

Local media quoted a survivor as saying the vessel capsized due to high waves and bad weather.

Dangerous journey&nbsp;

Nearly 520,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled Rakhine state for Bangladesh since late August, many walking for days through the thick jungle before making the perilous boat journey across the Naf river.

Around 150 Rohingya, many of them children, have drowned while trying to reach Bangladesh in small, rickety fishing boats that coastguards say are woefully inadequate for the rough seas.

Last week more than 60 Rohingya refugees are feared to have died after a boat carrying them from Myanmar capsized in rough weather in the Bay of Bengal just off the Bangladesh coast.

The bodies of 23 people were retrieved, but the death toll was expected to surge, with many of the dead likely to be young children too weak to swim through the churning water.

The refugee crisis erupted after Rohingya militant raids on Myanmar police posts on&nbsp;August 25&nbsp;prompted a brutal military backlash.

The United Nations has said the army campaign could amount to &quot;ethnic cleansing&quot; while Myanmar military leaders have blamed the unrest on the Rohingya.

The government of Buddhist-majority Myanmar refuses to recognise the Rohingya as a distinct ethnic group and considers them illegal migrants from Bangladesh.

While the worst of the violence appears to have abated, insecurity, food shortages and tensions with Buddhist neighbours are still driving thousands of Rohingya to make the arduous trek to Bangladesh.

Bangladesh has made the journey even more difficult with a clampdown on boats running refugees across the Naf river.

Authorities have destroyed at least 30 wooden fishing vessels whose captains are accused of smuggling Rohingya and illegal drugs into the country.

Gangs of boat owners, crew and fishermen have been charging the fleeing Rohingya upwards of $250 for the two-hour journey that normally costs no more than $5.

Bangladesh coast, and border guard officials said the boat was overloaded. That there were about 100 people on it, many of them children

At least 12 people died and scores were missing Monday after a boat packed with Rohingya refugees -- many of them children -- capsized, the latest tragedy to strike those fleeing violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state. Coast guard and border guard officials said the boat was overloaded with about 100 people when it sank late Sunday in the mouth of the Naf river that separates Myanmar from Bangladesh. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) official Abdul Jalil told AFP 12 bodies had been recovered after an all-night rescue operation, saying "they include 10 children, an elderly woman and a man". Area coast guard commander Alauddin Nayan said the boat capsized near the coastal village of Galachar with nearly 100 people on board. He said some 40 people in the boat were adult Rohingya Muslims fleeing their villages in Rakhine. "The rest were children," he said. Border guard boats have rescued 13 Rohingya including three women and two children after scouring the estuary of the Naf river, Jalil said. Since the boat capsized near the Myanmar side of the border, Jalil said many may have swum to the Rakhine coast. The coast guard said the boat sank at around 10:00 pm (1600 GMT). Local media quoted a survivor as saying the vessel capsized due to high waves and bad weather. Dangerous journey Nearly 520,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled Rakhine state for Bangladesh since late August, many walking for days through the thick jungle before making the perilous boat journey across the Naf river. Around 150 Rohingya, many of them children, have drowned while trying to reach Bangladesh in small, rickety fishing boats that coastguards say are woefully inadequate for the rough seas. Last week more than 60 Rohingya refugees are feared to have died after a boat carrying them from Myanmar capsized in rough weather in the Bay of Bengal just off the Bangladesh coast. The bodies of 23 people were retrieved, but the death toll was expected to surge, with many of the dead likely to be young children too weak to swim through the churning water. The refugee crisis erupted after Rohingya militant raids on Myanmar police posts on August 25 prompted a brutal military backlash. The United Nations has said the army campaign could amount to "ethnic cleansing" while Myanmar military leaders have blamed the unrest on the Rohingya. The government of Buddhist-majority Myanmar refuses to recognise the Rohingya as a distinct ethnic group and considers them illegal migrants from Bangladesh. While the worst of the violence appears to have abated, insecurity, food shortages and tensions with Buddhist neighbours are still driving thousands of Rohingya to make the arduous trek to Bangladesh. Bangladesh has made the journey even more difficult with a clampdown on boats running refugees across the Naf river. Authorities have destroyed at least 30 wooden fishing vessels whose captains are accused of smuggling Rohingya and illegal drugs into the country. Gangs of boat owners, crew and fishermen have been charging the fleeing Rohingya upwards of $250 for the two-hour journey that normally costs no more than $5.

At least 12 dead, scores missing after Rohingya boat capsizes

Thousands of&nbsp;Rohingya&nbsp;Muslims from&nbsp;Myanmar&nbsp;sought refugee in Bangladesh on Monday, in a&nbsp;new&nbsp;surge&nbsp;in an unrelenting flow of people driven by violence&nbsp;the United Nations has denounced as ethnic cleansing and increasingly by&nbsp;hunger&nbsp;too.

Reuters reporters on the Bangladeshi side of the border, in Palong Khali district, saw several thousand people crossing from&nbsp;Myanmar&#39;s Rakhine State, filing along embankments between flooded fields and scrubby forest.

&quot;Half of my village was burned down. I saw them do it,&quot; said Sayed Azin, 46, who said he had walked for eight days with his 80-year-old mother in a basket strung on a bamboo pole between him and his son.

Soldiers and Buddhist mobs had torched his village, he said.

&quot;I left everything,&quot; he said, sobbing. &quot;I can&#39;t find my relatives&nbsp;I can&#39;t take this anymore.&quot;

Some&nbsp;new&nbsp;arrivals spoke of bloody attacks by Buddhist mobs on people trekking towards the border.

About 519,000&nbsp;Rohingya&nbsp;have fled&nbsp;Myanmar&nbsp;since Aug. 25, when attacks by&nbsp;Rohingya&nbsp;militants on security posts in Rakhine State sparked a ferocious military response.

Refugees and rights groups say the army and Buddhist vigilantes have engaged in a campaign of killing and arson aimed at driving the&nbsp;Rohingya&nbsp;out of&nbsp;Myanmar.

Myanmar&nbsp;rejects accusations of ethnic cleansing and has labelled the militants from the Arakan Rohingya&nbsp;Salvation Army who launched the initial attacks as terrorists who have killed civilians and burnt villages.

Among those&nbsp;fleeing were up to 35 people on a boat that capsized off the Bangladesh coast on Sunday. At least 12 of them drowned while 13 were rescued, Bangladeshi police said.

&quot;We faced so many difficulties, for food and survival,&quot; survivor Sayed Hossein, 30, told Reuters, adding that his wife, three children, mother and father in law had drowned.

&quot;We came here to save our lives.&quot;

&#39;GETTING WORSE&#39;

The&nbsp;Myanmar&nbsp;government has said its &quot;clearance operations&quot; against the militants ended in early September and people had no reason to&nbsp;flee. But in recent days the government has reported large numbers of Muslims preparing to leave, with more than 17,000 people in one area alone.

The government cited worries about food and security as their reasons.

Some villagers in Rakhine State said the food was running out because rice in the fields was not ready for harvest and the state government had closed village markets and restricted the transport of food, apparently to cut supplies to the militants.

&quot;The situation&#39;s getting worse, we have no food and no guarantee of security,&quot; said a&nbsp;Rohingya resident of Hsin Hnin Pyar village on the south of the state&#39;s Buthidaung district.

He said he knew&nbsp;of several people who had been picked up by police and beaten on suspicion of having militant links, adding that a lot of people were preparing to&nbsp;flee.

Senior state government official Kyaw Swar Tun declined to go into details when asked about the food situation, except to ask, &quot;Have you heard of anyone dying of&nbsp;hunger&nbsp;in Buthidaung?&quot;

The reports of food shortages will add to the urgency of calls by aid agencies and the international community for unfettered humanitarian access to the conflict zone.

The insurgents declared a one-month ceasefire from Sept. 10 to enable the delivery of aid but the government rebuffed them, saying it did not negotiate with terrorists.

The ceasefire is due to end at midnight on Monday but the insurgents said in a statement they were ready to respond to any peace move by the government.

The ability of the group, which only surfaced in October last year, to mount any sort of challenge to the army is not known, but it does not appear to have been able to put up resistance to the latest military offensive.

COMING, GOING

Bangladesh was already home to 400,000&nbsp;Rohingya&nbsp;who had fled earlier bouts of&nbsp;violence.

Mostly Buddhist&nbsp;Myanmar&nbsp;does not recognise the&nbsp;Rohingya&nbsp;as citizens, even though many have lived there for generations.

But even as refugees arrive, Bangladesh insists they will all have to go home.&nbsp;Myanmar&nbsp;has responded by saying it will take back those who can be verified as genuine refugees.

Many&nbsp;Rohingya&nbsp;fear they will not be able to prove their right to return.

Myanmar&nbsp;leader and Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi have faced scathing international criticism for not doing more to stop the&nbsp;violence, although she has no power over the security forces under a military-drafted constitution.

The United States and Britain have warned&nbsp;Myanmar&nbsp;the crisis is putting at risk the progress it has made since the military began to loosen its grip on power in 2011.

The European Union and the United States are considering targeted sanctions against&nbsp;Myanmar military leaders over the&nbsp;violence, officials familiar with the discussions say.

Several thousand people cross from?Myanmar's Rakhine State, filing along embankments between flooded fields and scrubby forest

Thousands of Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar sought refugee in Bangladesh on Monday, in a new surge in an unrelenting flow of people driven by violence the United Nations has denounced as ethnic cleansing and increasingly by hunger too. Reuters reporters on the Bangladeshi side of the border, in Palong Khali district, saw several thousand people crossing from Myanmar's Rakhine State, filing along embankments between flooded fields and scrubby forest. "Half of my village was burned down. I saw them do it," said Sayed Azin, 46, who said he had walked for eight days with his 80-year-old mother in a basket strung on a bamboo pole between him and his son. Soldiers and Buddhist mobs had torched his village, he said. "I left everything," he said, sobbing. "I can't find my relatives I can't take this anymore." Some new arrivals spoke of bloody attacks by Buddhist mobs on people trekking towards the border. About 519,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar since Aug. 25, when attacks by Rohingya militants on security posts in Rakhine State sparked a ferocious military response. Refugees and rights groups say the army and Buddhist vigilantes have engaged in a campaign of killing and arson aimed at driving the Rohingya out of Myanmar. Myanmar rejects accusations of ethnic cleansing and has labelled the militants from the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army who launched the initial attacks as terrorists who have killed civilians and burnt villages. Among those fleeing were up to 35 people on a boat that capsized off the Bangladesh coast on Sunday. At least 12 of them drowned while 13 were rescued, Bangladeshi police said. "We faced so many difficulties, for food and survival," survivor Sayed Hossein, 30, told Reuters, adding that his wife, three children, mother and father in law had drowned. "We came here to save our lives." 'GETTING WORSE' The Myanmar government has said its "clearance operations" against the militants ended in early September and people had no reason to flee. But in recent days the government has reported large numbers of Muslims preparing to leave, with more than 17,000 people in one area alone. The government cited worries about food and security as their reasons. Some villagers in Rakhine State said the food was running out because rice in the fields was not ready for harvest and the state government had closed village markets and restricted the transport of food, apparently to cut supplies to the militants. "The situation's getting worse, we have no food and no guarantee of security," said a Rohingya resident of Hsin Hnin Pyar village on the south of the state's Buthidaung district. He said he knew of several people who had been picked up by police and beaten on suspicion of having militant links, adding that a lot of people were preparing to flee. Senior state government official Kyaw Swar Tun declined to go into details when asked about the food situation, except to ask, "Have you heard of anyone dying of hunger in Buthidaung?" The reports of food shortages will add to the urgency of calls by aid agencies and the international community for unfettered humanitarian access to the conflict zone. The insurgents declared a one-month ceasefire from Sept. 10 to enable the delivery of aid but the government rebuffed them, saying it did not negotiate with terrorists. The ceasefire is due to end at midnight on Monday but the insurgents said in a statement they were ready to respond to any peace move by the government. The ability of the group, which only surfaced in October last year, to mount any sort of challenge to the army is not known, but it does not appear to have been able to put up resistance to the latest military offensive. COMING, GOING Bangladesh was already home to 400,000 Rohingya who had fled earlier bouts of violence. Mostly Buddhist Myanmar does not recognise the Rohingya as citizens, even though many have lived there for generations. But even as refugees arrive, Bangladesh insists they will all have to go home. Myanmar has responded by saying it will take back those who can be verified as genuine refugees. Many Rohingya fear they will not be able to prove their right to return. Myanmar leader and Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi have faced scathing international criticism for not doing more to stop the violence, although she has no power over the security forces under a military-drafted constitution. The United States and Britain have warned Myanmar the crisis is putting at risk the progress it has made since the military began to loosen its grip on power in 2011. The European Union and the United States are considering targeted sanctions against Myanmar military leaders over the violence, officials familiar with the discussions say.

More Rohingya refugees flee Myanmar citing violence, hunger

Bangladesh foreign secretary Shahidul Haque said today Dhaka has backed India&#39;s stand on the Rohingya issue

&quot;I think the way India is currently approaching on the Rohingya issue, we are extremely happy,&quot; Bangladesh foreign secretary Shahidul Haque said.

Haque, who arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday, has met Indian officials to deal with the Rohingya crisis, with which Dhaka is grappling because of the arrival of refugees.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had earlier described the Rohingyas as &quot;illegal immigrants&quot;&nbsp;and not refugees who had applied for asylum in India.

The home minister had also said that India would not violate any international law by deporting Rohingyas, as it was not a signatory to the UN Refugees Convention 1951.

Addressing a seminar organised by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Singh asked why some people were objecting to the deportation of Rohingyas when Myanmar was ready to accept them.

External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj is expected to visit Dhaka for a joint consultative commission meeting.

Swaraj had earlier expressed India`s full support to Bangladesh`s stance over the Rohingya issue as international concern grows over the fate of the refugees.

Rajnath Singh had earlier described the Rohingyas as "illegal immigrants"?and not refugees who had applied for asylum in India.

Bangladesh foreign secretary Shahidul Haque said today Dhaka has backed India's stand on the Rohingya issue "I think the way India is currently approaching on the Rohingya issue, we are extremely happy," Bangladesh foreign secretary Shahidul Haque said. Haque, who arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday, has met Indian officials to deal with the Rohingya crisis, with which Dhaka is grappling because of the arrival of refugees. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had earlier described the Rohingyas as "illegal immigrants" and not refugees who had applied for asylum in India. The home minister had also said that India would not violate any international law by deporting Rohingyas, as it was not a signatory to the UN Refugees Convention 1951. Addressing a seminar organised by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Singh asked why some people were objecting to the deportation of Rohingyas when Myanmar was ready to accept them. External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj is expected to visit Dhaka for a joint consultative commission meeting. Swaraj had earlier expressed India`s full support to Bangladesh`s stance over the Rohingya issue as international concern grows over the fate of the refugees.

Rohingya issue: Bangladesh backs India's stand, says foreign minister Shahidul Haque

Thousands of Islamist hardliners marched in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bangladesh-to-press-for-muslim-refugees-return-to-myanmar-20902" target="_blank">Bangladesh&#39;s port city of Chittagong Friday calling for the government to arm Rohingya Muslim refugees </a>fleeing a crackdown in Myanmar&#39;s troubled Rakhine state.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/10000-rohingya-poised-to-enter-bangladesh-as-exodus-swells-again-20965" target="_blank">More than half a million Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh</a> since attacks by militants belonging to the Muslim minority on Myanmar police posts sparked brutal reprisals by security forces.

The refugees accuse Myanmar&#39;s army, flanked by mobs of ethnic Rakhine, of slaughtering them and burning their villages in a campaign which the United Nations says amounts to &quot;ethnic cleansing&quot;.

Myanmar&#39;s military has blamed the unrest on the Rohingya.

Up to 15,000 people joined the demonstrations in Bangladesh&#39;s second largest city, police said, organised by hardline Islamist group Hefazat-e-Islam to protest against the killings of the Rohingya.

&quot;We demanded a halt to the genocide of the Rohingya,&quot; Hefazat spokesman Azizul Hoque Islamabad told AFP.

&quot;We have also asked the government to train and arm the Rohingya so that they can liberate their homeland,&quot; he said.

Communities in Chittagong share close cultural, religious and linguistic ties with the Rohingya, and images on social media purportedly showing abuses against the Muslim minority in mainly Buddhist Myanmar have aroused strong sympathy in Bangladesh.

Islamist parties, including Hefazat, have staged several demonstrations over the issue in recent weeks and some firebrand leaders have called on the government to go to war with Myanmar to liberate Rakhine for the persecuted Rohingya.

Experts said Bangladeshi Islamist extremist groups could exploit the situation and forge closer ties with Rohingya militants.

The plight of the Rohingya, a Muslim minority who are reviled and denied citizenship in Myanmar, has <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/wion-exclusive-pakistans-role-behind-rohingya-insurgent-groups-cant-be-ruled-out-says-ht-imam-20803" target="_blank">roused anger across the Islamic world, with protests held in Pakistan</a>, Malaysia and Indonesia.

The influx has also put Bangladesh under immense strain, with the South Asian country already hosting at least 300,000 Rohingya refugees in squalid camps along its border with Myanmar before the latest surge in arrivals.

Thousands of Islamist hardliners marched in Bangladesh's port city of Chittagong Friday

Thousands of Islamist hardliners marched in Bangladesh's port city of Chittagong Friday calling for the government to arm Rohingya Muslim refugees fleeing a crackdown in Myanmar's troubled Rakhine state. More than half a million Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh since attacks by militants belonging to the Muslim minority on Myanmar police posts sparked brutal reprisals by security forces. The refugees accuse Myanmar's army, flanked by mobs of ethnic Rakhine, of slaughtering them and burning their villages in a campaign which the United Nations says amounts to "ethnic cleansing". Myanmar's military has blamed the unrest on the Rohingya. Up to 15,000 people joined the demonstrations in Bangladesh's second largest city, police said, organised by hardline Islamist group Hefazat-e-Islam to protest against the killings of the Rohingya. "We demanded a halt to the genocide of the Rohingya," Hefazat spokesman Azizul Hoque Islamabad told AFP. "We have also asked the government to train and arm the Rohingya so that they can liberate their homeland," he said. Communities in Chittagong share close cultural, religious and linguistic ties with the Rohingya, and images on social media purportedly showing abuses against the Muslim minority in mainly Buddhist Myanmar have aroused strong sympathy in Bangladesh. Islamist parties, including Hefazat, have staged several demonstrations over the issue in recent weeks and some firebrand leaders have called on the government to go to war with Myanmar to liberate Rakhine for the persecuted Rohingya. Experts said Bangladeshi Islamist extremist groups could exploit the situation and forge closer ties with Rohingya militants. The plight of the Rohingya, a Muslim minority who are reviled and denied citizenship in Myanmar, has roused anger across the Islamic world, with protests held in Pakistan, Malaysia and Indonesia. The influx has also put Bangladesh under immense strain, with the South Asian country already hosting at least 300,000 Rohingya refugees in squalid camps along its border with Myanmar before the latest surge in arrivals.

Bangladesh Islamists call on government to arm Rohingyas

Britain&#39;s Prince Charles will tour southeast Asia and India later this month, but the heir to the throne will not visit Myanmar, after a spate of violence and allegations that authorities are carrying out ethnic cleansing.

Media reports last month said an official visit to Myanmar was being suggested for the trip, which the prince is undertaking on behalf of the British government, and aides acknowledged it had been considered as part of the schedule.

But it was omitted from the final programme issued on Wednesday. Charles and his wife Camilla will travel to Singapore, Malaysia and then to India where he will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

&quot;We looked at a range of options in the region and, as we&#39;re announcing today, we&#39;re going ahead with the visit to Singapore and Malaysia,&quot; Philip Malone, Deputy Head of Department at Britain&#39;s Foreign and Commonwealth Office, told reporters.

Malone and royal aides declined to elaborate.

More than 500,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled from Myanmar to Bangladesh in the past month since insurgents attacked security posts near the border, triggering fierce military retaliation that the United Nations has branded ethnic cleansing.

Last month Britain suspended its training programme for the military in Myanmar because of the violence, and diplomatic relations have deteriorated.

Rights campaigners had argued against a royal visit.

&quot;To have someone of Prince Charles&rsquo;s stature go to visit the country would be seen as a reward, and giving legitimacy to the government and the military that are currently violating international law,&quot; said Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK.

Charles and Camilla will begin their tour in Singapore on Oct. 31 before going to Malaysia, where they will celebrate 60 years of diplomatic ties since the former British colony became independent, before concluding the 11-day tour in India.

Last month Britain suspended its training programme for the military in Myanmar because of the violence, and diplomatic relations have deteriorated.

Britain's Prince Charles will tour southeast Asia and India later this month, but the heir to the throne will not visit Myanmar, after a spate of violence and allegations that authorities are carrying out ethnic cleansing. Media reports last month said an official visit to Myanmar was being suggested for the trip, which the prince is undertaking on behalf of the British government, and aides acknowledged it had been considered as part of the schedule. But it was omitted from the final programme issued on Wednesday. Charles and his wife Camilla will travel to Singapore, Malaysia and then to India where he will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "We looked at a range of options in the region and, as we're announcing today, we're going ahead with the visit to Singapore and Malaysia," Philip Malone, Deputy Head of Department at Britain's Foreign and Commonwealth Office, told reporters. Malone and royal aides declined to elaborate. More than 500,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled from Myanmar to Bangladesh in the past month since insurgents attacked security posts near the border, triggering fierce military retaliation that the United Nations has branded ethnic cleansing. Last month Britain suspended its training programme for the military in Myanmar because of the violence, and diplomatic relations have deteriorated. Rights campaigners had argued against a royal visit. "To have someone of Prince Charles’s stature go to visit the country would be seen as a reward, and giving legitimacy to the government and the military that are currently violating international law," said Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK. Charles and Camilla will begin their tour in Singapore on Oct. 31 before going to Malaysia, where they will celebrate 60 years of diplomatic ties since the former British colony became independent, before concluding the 11-day tour in India.

Prince Charles leaves out Myanmar visit in southeast Asia tour

A few days after <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/rohingya-fleeing-myanmar-say-army-redoubling-push-to-clear-villages-21005">Oxford took down the portrait of Aung San Suu Kyi,</a> the University decided to stip her of the Freedom of Oxford award over her handling of the Rohingya crisis in &nbsp;Myanmar.

Suu Kyi is an alumnus of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/myanmar-beauty-queen-calls-rohingya-muslims-terrorist-organisation-stripped-of-title-20981">Oxford University having graduated in philosophy</a>, politics and economics in 1967 from St Hugh&#39;s college before completing her masters in politics in 1968.

The Oxford City Council voted unanimously to support a motion that said it was &quot;no longer appropriate&quot; to celebrate Suu Kyi, who has come under fierce criticism for inaction in the face of reported atrocities against Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state, Britain&#39;s The Independent reported.

On Saturday, Oxford had decided to place her portrait in storage at St Hugh&#39;s college and replace it with a new painting gifted by Japanese artist Yoshihiro Takada.

&quot;The painting of Aung San Suu Kyi has meanwhile been moved to a secure location,&quot; the college had said in a statement.

Oxford&#39;s decision to strip Suu Kyi of the Freedom award and the removal of her&nbsp;1997 portrait&nbsp;comes a few days before new students arrive at the college to start their course.

The Oxford City Council has voted unanimously to support a motion that said it was "no longer appropriate" to celebrate Suu Kyi

A few days after Oxford took down the portrait of Aung San Suu Kyi, the University decided to stip her of the Freedom of Oxford award over her handling of the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar. Suu Kyi is an alumnus of Oxford University having graduated in philosophy, politics and economics in 1967 from St Hugh's college before completing her masters in politics in 1968. The Oxford City Council voted unanimously to support a motion that said it was "no longer appropriate" to celebrate Suu Kyi, who has come under fierce criticism for inaction in the face of reported atrocities against Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state, Britain's The Independent reported. On Saturday, Oxford had decided to place her portrait in storage at St Hugh's college and replace it with a new painting gifted by Japanese artist Yoshihiro Takada. "The painting of Aung San Suu Kyi has meanwhile been moved to a secure location," the college had said in a statement. Oxford's decision to strip Suu Kyi of the Freedom award and the removal of her 1997 portrait comes a few days before new students arrive at the college to start their course.

Suu Kyi stripped of Freedom of Oxford award amid Rohingya crisis

Bangladesh police have rescued 20 Rohingya after busting a gang which ferried the refugees from Myanmar but demanded thousands of dollars for the boat ride, an official said Tuesday.

The Rapid Action Battalion raided a village near the border with Myanmar late Monday to free the Rohingya Muslims who had been held there for a day, said Major Ruhul Amin.&nbsp;

The RAB chief who led the operation at Sabrung near Cox&#39;s Bazar told AFP the 20 included seven women, five men and eight children.

&quot;They were held there by a gang of boat owners and crew who demanded 20,000 takas ($250) per person for a two-hour boat ride from Myanmar,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

A boat ride between Maungdaw and Bangladesh&#39;s main landing station at Shah Porir Dwip would cost no more than five dollars normally.

Amin said they arrested three members of the gang for profiteering. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The UN estimates that 507,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled Rakhine into Bangladesh since late August after the latest eruption of violence in the northern Myanmar state.

Many have arrived on rickety boats crossing the Naf river, which marks the border between Bangladesh&#39;s Cox&#39;s Bazar district and Rakhine.

Police said boat owners, crew and fishermen have charged exorbitant prices for the rides.

&quot;It has become a common phenomenon&quot; since the influx began, Amin said.

Authorities have deployed mobile courts to crack down on the profiteering gangs and handed down sentences of up to six months&#39; jail on nearly 200 people.

&quot;We have arrested 20 brokers and freed nearly 2,000 people in raids in the coastal villages. In one raid we rescued about 1,000 Rohingya who were held at six houses,&quot; Amin said.

Rohingya who fled to Bangladesh said the boatmen extracted every last penny from them for the ferry and threatened to throw them overboard if they refused to surrender valuables including gold ornaments

Media reports have mentioned Rohingya being held by boatmen and agents for hours in coastal villages until they made inflated payments for the trip.&nbsp;

Rohingya living in established refugee camps in Bangladesh have also been accused of joining the profiteering.

The Rapid Action Battalion raided a village near the border with Myanmar late Monday to free the Rohingya Muslims who had been held there for a day, said Major Ruhul Amin

Bangladesh police have rescued 20 Rohingya after busting a gang which ferried the refugees from Myanmar but demanded thousands of dollars for the boat ride, an official said Tuesday. The Rapid Action Battalion raided a village near the border with Myanmar late Monday to free the Rohingya Muslims who had been held there for a day, said Major Ruhul Amin. The RAB chief who led the operation at Sabrung near Cox's Bazar told AFP the 20 included seven women, five men and eight children. "They were held there by a gang of boat owners and crew who demanded 20,000 takas ($250) per person for a two-hour boat ride from Myanmar," he said. A boat ride between Maungdaw and Bangladesh's main landing station at Shah Porir Dwip would cost no more than five dollars normally. Amin said they arrested three members of the gang for profiteering. The UN estimates that 507,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled Rakhine into Bangladesh since late August after the latest eruption of violence in the northern Myanmar state. Many have arrived on rickety boats crossing the Naf river, which marks the border between Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar district and Rakhine. Police said boat owners, crew and fishermen have charged exorbitant prices for the rides. "It has become a common phenomenon" since the influx began, Amin said. Authorities have deployed mobile courts to crack down on the profiteering gangs and handed down sentences of up to six months' jail on nearly 200 people. "We have arrested 20 brokers and freed nearly 2,000 people in raids in the coastal villages. In one raid we rescued about 1,000 Rohingya who were held at six houses," Amin said. Rohingya who fled to Bangladesh said the boatmen extracted every last penny from them for the ferry and threatened to throw them overboard if they refused to surrender valuables including gold ornaments Media reports have mentioned Rohingya being held by boatmen and agents for hours in coastal villages until they made inflated payments for the trip. Rohingya living in established refugee camps in Bangladesh have also been accused of joining the profiteering.

Bangladesh rescues 20 Rohingya held by refugee racket gang

More than 10,000 Muslim Rohingya have massed in Myanmar near a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/aid-group-warns-of-death-among-rohingya-in-bangladesh-20298" target="_blank">crossing point into Bangladesh</a>, Myanmar media said&nbsp;Tuesday, apparently poised to join an exodus across the border due to food shortages and fear of attacks in their mainly Buddhist homeland.

Over 500,000 Rohingya have streamed into Bangladesh in just the past five weeks, and numbers are again swelling, raising doubts about the practicality of a Myanmar proposal to begin repatriating them.

Myanmar&#39;s northern state of Rakhine has been emptied of half of its Rohingya population in weeks.

More are on the move as insecurity presses them to leave those villages which have so far been spared the worst of the violence that ripped through the state.

Attacks by Rohingya militants on&nbsp;August 25&nbsp;spurred a ferocious Myanmar army crackdown that the UN says amounted to &quot;ethnic cleansing&quot;.

Over 10,000 &quot;Muslims&quot; have arrived &quot;between Letphwekya and Kwunthpin village to emigrate to the neighbouring country&quot;, the state-backed Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported&nbsp;Tuesday.

Myanmar&#39;s government refuses to recognise the Rohingya as a distinct ethnic group, instead of calling them &quot;Muslims&quot; or &quot;Bengalis&quot;, code for illegal migrants from Bangladesh.&nbsp;

Authorities have tried to reassure fleeing Rohingya that they are now safe in Rakhine, the report added, but they want to leave &quot;of their own accord&quot;.

Violence appears to have ebbed in northern Rakhine, although independent reporting is still prevented by an army lockdown.&nbsp;

But fear has unsettled many of the Rohingya who remain, threatened by Myanmar&#39;s army and their hostile ethnic Rakhine neighbours and cut off from aid agencies.&nbsp;

After a brief lull in arrivals, the Bangladesh Border Guard says 4-5,000 Rohingya are now crossing each day.

&quot;They don&#39;t want to stay (in Myanmar). They want to come here... they are being told to leave,&quot; Lieutenant-Colonel SM Ariful Islam told AFP.

Food is also running out, with villagers too fearful to tend to their crops in case they are attacked by their neighbours.

&quot;In some villages, they are scared to pass by Rakhine villages,&quot; Chris Lewa, from Rohingya advocacy group the Arakan Project, told AFP.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/rohingya-infant-washes-up-dead-reminds-world-of-syrian-boy-alan-kurdi-10903" target="_blank">Rohingya infant washes up dead, reminds world of Syrian boy Alan Kurdi</a>

Rakhine in ruins&nbsp;

Myanmar denies most Rohingya citizenship and the public in the Buddhist-majority nation does not want them back.

Myanmar&#39;s army has branded them illegal immigrants intent on imposing Islam via the country&#39;s western gateway.

On Monday&nbsp;Myanmar&#39;s Minister of the Office of State Counselor, Kyaw Tint Swe, told Bangladesh his country was ready to accept refugees subject to a verification process agreed in the early 1990s by the neighbours.

The minister&#39;s offer applies only to those who fled in the past year, according to a Bangladeshi official, excluding some 300,000 Rohingya who fled earlier.&nbsp;

And refugees and rights groups say the verification which Myanmar wants will leave huge numbers in the squalid refugee camps in Bangladesh since it relies on documentation which most Rohingya do not have.

The refugees are also deeply fearful of what awaits back in Myanmar, with many recounting stories of rape and mass murder at the hands of the army while their villages have been destroyed.

Relief agencies&nbsp;Tuesday&nbsp;were fighting to contain a diarrhoea outbreak around hugely overcrowded camps in Bangladesh.

A 20-bed clinic was opened at Kutupalong camp&nbsp;Monday&nbsp;for diarrhoea victims and another 60-bed facility will be set up this week.

&quot;We have seen an increasing trend of diarrhoeal disease cases, including cases of diarrhoea with severe dehydration,&quot; said United Nations refugee agency spokesman Andrej Mahecic.

The UN said it would seek $430 million to increase operations in the camps.

Inside Rakhine, already one of Myanmar&#39;s poorest states, conditions are worsening for those left behind.

UN officials toured a conflict-hit portion of the state&nbsp;on Monday, noting the &quot;unimaginable&quot; scale of suffering and urging humanitarian access.

An EU delegation accompanying them on the government-steered day trip urged an end to the violence after seeing &quot;villages burned to the ground and emptied of inhabitants&quot;.

<h1 title="Fires rage in Rakhine as Myanmar army blames Rohingya for mosque blast">&nbsp;</h1>

Over 500,000 Rohingya have streamed into Bangladesh in just the past five weeks

More than 10,000 Muslim Rohingya have massed in Myanmar near a crossing point into Bangladesh, Myanmar media said Tuesday, apparently poised to join an exodus across the border due to food shortages and fear of attacks in their mainly Buddhist homeland. Over 500,000 Rohingya have streamed into Bangladesh in just the past five weeks, and numbers are again swelling, raising doubts about the practicality of a Myanmar proposal to begin repatriating them. Myanmar's northern state of Rakhine has been emptied of half of its Rohingya population in weeks. More are on the move as insecurity presses them to leave those villages which have so far been spared the worst of the violence that ripped through the state. Attacks by Rohingya militants on August 25 spurred a ferocious Myanmar army crackdown that the UN says amounted to "ethnic cleansing". Over 10,000 "Muslims" have arrived "between Letphwekya and Kwunthpin village to emigrate to the neighbouring country", the state-backed Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported Tuesday. Myanmar's government refuses to recognise the Rohingya as a distinct ethnic group, instead of calling them "Muslims" or "Bengalis", code for illegal migrants from Bangladesh. Authorities have tried to reassure fleeing Rohingya that they are now safe in Rakhine, the report added, but they want to leave "of their own accord". Violence appears to have ebbed in northern Rakhine, although independent reporting is still prevented by an army lockdown. But fear has unsettled many of the Rohingya who remain, threatened by Myanmar's army and their hostile ethnic Rakhine neighbours and cut off from aid agencies. After a brief lull in arrivals, the Bangladesh Border Guard says 4-5,000 Rohingya are now crossing each day. "They don't want to stay (in Myanmar). They want to come here... they are being told to leave," Lieutenant-Colonel SM Ariful Islam told AFP. Food is also running out, with villagers too fearful to tend to their crops in case they are attacked by their neighbours. "In some villages, they are scared to pass by Rakhine villages," Chris Lewa, from Rohingya advocacy group the Arakan Project, told AFP. Also read: Rohingya infant washes up dead, reminds world of Syrian boy Alan Kurdi Rakhine in ruins Myanmar denies most Rohingya citizenship and the public in the Buddhist-majority nation does not want them back. Myanmar's army has branded them illegal immigrants intent on imposing Islam via the country's western gateway. On Monday Myanmar's Minister of the Office of State Counselor, Kyaw Tint Swe, told Bangladesh his country was ready to accept refugees subject to a verification process agreed in the early 1990s by the neighbours. The minister's offer applies only to those who fled in the past year, according to a Bangladeshi official, excluding some 300,000 Rohingya who fled earlier. And refugees and rights groups say the verification which Myanmar wants will leave huge numbers in the squalid refugee camps in Bangladesh since it relies on documentation which most Rohingya do not have. The refugees are also deeply fearful of what awaits back in Myanmar, with many recounting stories of rape and mass murder at the hands of the army while their villages have been destroyed. Relief agencies Tuesday were fighting to contain a diarrhoea outbreak around hugely overcrowded camps in Bangladesh. A 20-bed clinic was opened at Kutupalong camp Monday for diarrhoea victims and another 60-bed facility will be set up this week. "We have seen an increasing trend of diarrhoeal disease cases, including cases of diarrhoea with severe dehydration," said United Nations refugee agency spokesman Andrej Mahecic. The UN said it would seek $430 million to increase operations in the camps. Inside Rakhine, already one of Myanmar's poorest states, conditions are worsening for those left behind. UN officials toured a conflict-hit portion of the state on Monday, noting the "unimaginable" scale of suffering and urging humanitarian access. An EU delegation accompanying them on the government-steered day trip urged an end to the violence after seeing "villages burned to the ground and emptied of inhabitants".

10,000 Rohingya poised to enter Bangladesh as exodus swells again

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