Myanmar repatriates 11 Bangladeshi refugees

YANGON - Myanmar immigration authorities have repatriated 11 Bangladeshi refugees who drifted to shore near Oodaung village in Maungtaw, Myanmar's western Rakhine state, after being forced to jump down from a boat bound for Malaysia, official media reported Wednesday.

The Bangladeshi refugees, who were found taking shelter in a hut at a prawn breeding pond at the weekend, were confirmed by local police to be Bangladeshi citizens.

According to their account, the Bangladeshi refugees had boarded the boat last Friday bound for Malaysia.

After it was found impossible to reach the destination, the refugees were told that they would be sent back home. But when the boat got near the mouth of Alethankyaw Creek, the refugees were forced to jump down from the boat and drifted to the place where they took refugee.

The local immigration authorities sent them back to Bangladesh from the mouth of the creek by a fishing trawler, the report said.