Since 2005, a Burmese refugee, Min Wa has been detained in Bangladesh prison after he was arrested by the border security forces of Bangladesh BDR when some local people misinformed the Bangladesh authorities that Min Wa had a gun. His wife Ma Aye May said that after his arrest, Bangladesh authorities sent him to prison and have detained him since then without any trial.

Min Wa is Burmese refugee recognized by the UNHCR in Dhaka. He was working at a husbandry project in the village sponsored by UNHCR under their self-reliance program for urban Burmese refugees. He was arrested by Bangladesh Rifles during the evening of 16 July, 2005, from his family home, while he was enjoying dinner along with his wife and only daughter.

Report carried out by The Narinjara News said that a few days ago, his wife Ma Aye May went to Chittagong prison to see her husband, but she could not meet her and now she does not know the whereabouts of her husband Min Wa despite her repeated request to the jail authority to let her know where her husband has been detained.

The report also said that a UNHCR staff member in Cox's Bazar who is familiar with such cases said that this is a false case.

We, the Rohingya Human Rights Council(RHRC) fervently appeal to Bangladesh government to releas Min Wa and also to look into how a man could have been put in prison for nearly three years without any trial.

We also request the UNHCR in Dhaka and other human rights groups of Bangladesh to take up the issue for the quickest release of Min Wa and also to provide legal assistance in his case.#

With thanks and best regards.

Ahmedur Rahman Farooq
Chairman
Rohingya Human Rights Council (RHRC)
Address: 2975 Vang i Valdres, Norway
Contact: +4797413036
Email: rohingyas.rhrc@ yahoo.com, rohingyas.rhrc@ gmail.com