Major General Shakil Ahmed, Director General of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), said on Monday that the border guards remained on high alert along the border with Myanmar over tensions that have plagued the region for the last two months.
“The BGB has remained very watchful and has taken a firm stand (along the border),” the BGB chief told reporters as he visited Ghumdhum area in Naikkhongchhari uapzila in Bandarban.
At least a dozen mortar shells have recently been fired by the Myanmar army on Bangladesh territory. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh has warned Myanmar over it. Myanamr says its military is fighting against insurgent groups inside their territory.
“Since it is an internal issue of Myanmar, on the other side of the border, that’s their concern to deal with. Bangladesh has strongly protested after patrols of the Myanmar military crossed the border line and fired mortar shells that fell inside Bangladesh. Bangladesh has sent a note of protests,” he said.
In response, he said, Myanmar agreed to hold a flag meeting with the BGB. “The flag meeting is expected to be held very soon,” he said.
Shakil reached Ghumdhum from Cox’s Bazar at 11 am and visited Tambru, Baishfari, Tuingajhiri and Rejupara border outposts.
On October 5, a Bangladeshi man lost a leg in a landmine explosion near the border, also Naikkhongchhari.
On September 16, a second Bangladeshi youth was seriously injured in a landmine explosion along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border at Naikkhongchhari.
Source: United News of Bangladesh