The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Cox'sbazar

Eleven Bangladeshi monks who went to Myanmar for religious studies returned home Tuesday night through Teknaf border due to the closure of pagodas following an anti-junta movement in the neighbouring country.

Police said the monks, once inhabitants of Cox's Bazar, Rangamati and Bandarban districts, went to Myanmar as they said there is a lack of religious institutions for monks in Bangladesh. BDR jawans held the monks when they arrived at Teknaf border in a boat through the Na'f River at about 7pm and released them at about 11pm.

The monks told the BDR that they were studying at Seitway town of Myanmar and they came back home as the military junta shut down the pagodas and other institutions following the anti-junta movement