16 return from Myanmar jails

Sixteen Bangladeshi nationals returned home yesterday through Cox's Bazar after serving different jail terms in Myanmar.

Myanmar immigration department handed them over to Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) following a battalion level flag meeting at Mongdu town in Myanmar.

Major Md Abdul Hannan Khan, acting commander of BGB-42 Battalion, said the returnees included fishermen and Malaysia-bound people.

They were handed over to the Teknaf Police Station, he added.

The returnees are Ali Ahmed, Nur Kabir, Basat Karim, Ameer Hossain, Ershad Ullah, Mohammad Abdullah, Nurul Islam, Sayed Ullah (1), Sayed Ullah(2), Mohammad Ayaz, Jagir Hossain (1), Jagir Hossain (2)Hasim Ullah Mian, Md Nurul Alam, Enyet Ullah, Myar Khan alias Mirhan, all of them from Chakoria and Teknaf upazilas of the district.

Hasim Ullah, one of the returnees, said Myanmar's border security force caught him and another fisherman when they were fishing in Bangladesh border area in the Bay. Later, they were given a five year jail sentence.

Another fisherman, Ershad Ullah, said they were fishing in the Bay when Myanmar navy detained them. Later, a Myanmar court sentenced them to three and a half years imprisonment.

Md Azharul Alam, deputy commander of BGB-42 Battalion, led the 16-member Bangladesh delegation while U Myo Mying Aung, Myanmar immigration officer, led the Myanmar delegation.