Boat carrying Rohingya Muslims capsizes

A boat overcrowded with Rohingya Muslims fleeing Burma, also known as Myanmar, for Bangladesh capsized late Sunday leading to the death of at least 12 people, according to police. The boat sank near Shah Porir Dwip in Bangladesh’s southern coastal district of Cox’s Bazar. Border guard officials rescued at least eight refugees and continued to search for more survivors. More than 500,000 Rohingya have fled into neighboring Bangladesh since Aug. 25, when Rohingya militants renewed violent clashes by attacking Myanmar security posts. Myanmar security forces responded with clearance operations that have caused hundreds of thousands of Rohingya to flee the country. At least 155 Rohingya have died in boat accidents since the renewed clashes. Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said her government would continue to support the Rohingya Muslims, but called on Myanmar to take them back. “If needed, we will eat a full meal once a day and share the rest with them,” she said.