Cox`s Bazar, June 17 (UNB) – A human chain was formed in the town on Sunday demanding immediate step to prevent Rohingya refugees from entering the district from strife-torn Myanmar.

Organised by Sushasoner Jonno Nagorik (Sujon), a citizen`s platform which wants to establish justice in the society, several thousand people, including teachers, students, lawyers, writers, litterateurs, private company officials, NGO and rights activists, business leaders and journalists participated in the human chain, held in and around the DC`s office.

Speakers at the human chain said that new Rohingya influx is the main problem for the people of Cox`s Bazar district at present. Thousands of Rohingyas had illegally crossed into Bangladesh from Myanmar in 1978 and 1991-92 and have been living at different camps in Ukhia, Ramu and Teknaf upazilas and neighbouring Bandarban district since then creating tremendous pressure on densely-populated Bangladesh, especially Cox`s Bazar and Bandarban districts, they mentioned.

Apart from that Rohingyas are getting involved with various criminal activities here, including theft, robbery, abduction, human trafficking, drugs trafficking and contraband peddling, currency racketeering, passport forgery and killing, affecting good social atmosphere that prevailed in tourist town Cox`s Bazar and Bandarban district before their arrival, they alleged.

With the arrival of new Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, economic and social development, prosperity and smooth flourishing of tourism in Cox`s Bazar and Chittagong Hill Tracts region will be hampered, they cautioned.