The Maungdaw customs department forcibly collects money from the Rohingya for Thingyan | Halek Hossain

MAUNGDAW 4 MAY 2022 - The Maungdaw Township Customs Department in Rakhine State has reportedly forcibly raised funds from the Rohingya to celebrate the Thingyan (water festival). The Maungdaw Township Customs Office, which collects the money, is located next to the Shwe Pian Loa Tea Shop, south of the City Development Market on Mahabandula Road.

One shopkeeper, speaking on condition of anonymity, said office workers called Rohingya shopkeepers selling PVC pipes and water motors to the office on April 7 and forced them to pay for the Thingyan festival. In the office, shopkeepers forcibly agreed to provide officials with PVC pipes, water motors and other necessities for Thingyan. The shopkeepers also said that they were forced to pay for the installation of cables, water pipes and water motors.

The shops that were called to the office to celebrate Thingyan are:

• 1. Jumbo PVC Pipe Shop.
• 2. B.S.R PVC pipe shop;
• 3. A.H.S PVC Pipe Shop.
• 4. Several emporias including RBL PVC shops belong to Rohingyas.

One of the city dwellers said, "We are in trouble because it is not sold like before." It's like a robbery because we're forced to provide the things we need for free and pay for the installation. It has nothing to do with our Muslims. It is a religious insult to force them to do so during the holy month of Ramadan. "

Rohingya Muslims have become the scapegoats of all sections of the Buddhist-majority country of Myanmar due to the government's racial discrimination.