Cox’s Bazar: Thirty-four members of Myanmar’s military and Border Guard Police (BGP), who had taken refuge in Bangladesh a few months ago, were repatriated to Myanmar today. Alongside them, six Myanmar civilians-five detained in Cox’s Bazar jail and one in Patuakhali jail-who had completed their prison sentences, were also repatriated to their home country.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the repatriation process was carried out this afternoon through a civilian aircraft of Myanmar from Cox’s Bazar Airport, as stated in a foreign ministry’s press release. The 34 military and BGP personnel had fled due to the violence in Rakhine State and had taken refuge in Naikhongchhari, Bandarban between December and January. Since then, they had been under the custody of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).
Once the Myanmar government completed their identification and necessary documentation, the individuals were returned to Myanmar. The repatriation process was conducted under the supervision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with support from the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Security Services Division, Cox’s Bazar district administration, district police, BGB, Civil Aviation Authority, Customs, and other relevant authorities. Diplomats from the Myanmar Embassy in Dhaka were present during the repatriation.
Earlier, a total of 875 members of Myanmar’s BGP and other personnel were repatriated to Myanmar via the sea route in four phases last year.