127 Bangladesh refugees enter Mizoram

At least 127 refugees from Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts entered south Mizoram Lawngtlai district bordering Bangladesh and on Sunday and are taking shelter in 6 villages, Lawngtlai district administration officials said. The first batch of refugees numbering 124 people belonging to 18 families from Bangladesh entered Lawngtlai district at around 2 AM on Friday morning when the second batch entered the district on Friday afternoon, making the total refugees from Bangladesh entering the state on Friday to 127. The refugees, belonging to Bawm tribe, one of the ethnic Mizo tribe, are taking shelter at 6 villages – Khawmawi, Hruitezawl, Hmawngbu, Bungtlang South, Vathuampui and Chamdur ‘P’.

While 21 new entrants entered Khawmawi, Hruitezawl, Hmawngbu, Bungtlang South and Vathuampui villages, the rest are taking shelter at Champdur ‘P’ village where they are accommodated at the community hall. As there are 1,241 refugees from Bangladesh have been already taking shelter at Lawngtlai district the total number of refugees from Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh taking refuge in Lawngtlai district rose to 1,368. Lawngtlai district deputy commissioner’s office has been making arrangements for immediate relief and humanitarian assistance for the newly arrived refugees.

The district administration has provided food and silpaulins for the refugees as immediate relief and has made arrangements with the local authorities to further aid them in accordance with their requirements. Kuki-Chin community in Chittagong Hill Tracts began entering Lawngtlai district since the later part of November, 2022 after armed confrontation in the civilian populated areas. Refugee influx was necessitated by the ongoing armed clashes between the Bangladesh army and the Kuki-Chin National Army, fighting for a separate state in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.