Around 400,000 Rohingya refugees entered into Bangladesh after August 25 last. All newly arrived refugees, who talked to media; at border points of Ukhiya and Teknaf of Cox’s Bazar have testified that the Myanmar military soldiers along with local Buddhists were operating arson attacks over their houses.

On Thursday, it was seen from zero point near Tombru at Ghumdhum border under Bandarban hill track district and from the Shah Porir Dwip jetty on the shore of Naf River at Teknaf that heavy smoke was coming from the villages at Rakhine, suggesting houses had been recently set alight.

At least 10 plumes of smoke rising from the Myanmar side of the Naf River that marks the border with Bangladesh.

The Rohingya are fleeing from a Myanmar military offensive in the western state of Rakhine that was triggered by a mass exodus towards Bangladesh since on August 25.

Some of the Rohingya there said they are too afraid to go back to their homes but not ready to abandon them altogether and become refugees in Bangladesh.

Over 100 bodies believed to be those of Rohingya Muslims washed ashore at Jaliar Ghat and Shah Porir Dwip till September 14, highlighting the risks many of the persecuted minority is taking to flee violence in neighbouring Myanmar.

The Rohingyas are now known to have died making the hazardous and death-defying crossing on flimsy boats since a crisis erupted on August 25 in Rakhine State.

Local people claimed that bodies of the men bore stab wounds made by sharp weapons. It has been assumed that they were crossing the river after being tortured by the Myanmar military and local Buddhist terrorists.

Boats arrive each day after crossing the Bay of Bengal of the Naf River. The majority of the victims are children. Some of the bodies had bullet wounds.

Refugees are now squatting in makeshift temporary shelters that have mushroomed along the road and near the available land of hill at Ukhiya.

While most of Rohingya refugees arrive on foot, mostly walking through the jungle and mountains for several days, thousands are braving long and perilous voyages across the rough seas of the Bay of Bengal.

Many Rohingyas took shelter on both sides of the Cox’s Bazar-Teknaf Highway, especially from Ukhiya to Teknaf. Many were seen cutting nearby hills to build shelters with bamboos and other materials.

Though many new shelters have so far been constructed cutting hills, still many Rohingyas are living without any shelter.

The United Nations appealed on Thursday for massive help for nearly 400,000 Muslims from Myanmar who have fled to Bangladesh, with concern growing that the number could keep rising, unless Myanmar ends what critics denounce as ‘ethnic cleansing’.