Cox’s Bazar: Bodies of seven Rohingyas, who drowned when their boats capsized as they fled violence in Myanmar, were found floating on the River Naf at Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar.

The Teknaf police Officer-in-charge (OC) Main Uddin Khan said the bodies were recovered from the areas of Shah Porir Dwip, Jaliapara and Nazipara of Teknaf from Tuesday night to Wednesday morning.

Police said some boats carrying Rohingya refugees to Shah Porir Dwip capsized on Tuesday night. Bodies of two children were also recovered from estuary of Naf near the Shah Porir Dwip in the night. Later, police recovered bodies of two men and a child from the Jaliapara area.

On Wednesday morning, local people found two bodies of women floating near Nazipara and called police. Later, police recovered the bodies.

Local people claimed, 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 Army.

An estimated 370,000 Rohingya Muslim refugees have fled to Bangladesh to escape violence and death in neighbouring Myanmar since 25 August. At least 457,000 hungry and traumatized refugees have sought refuge in Bangladesh’s border areas Ukhia and Teknaf since October 2016. They have joined many thousands of refugees from previous violent episodes in Myanmar.