A scheduled meeting between the chiefs of the borders forces of Bangladesh and Myanmar, which was scheduled to begin today, has been postponed at Myanmar’s request as they have been facing ‘internal problems’ right at the moment.
The request followed severe sectarian violence in Rakhaine state of Myanmar that led to continued intrusion of Myammar nationals into Bangladesh.
The Bangaldesh border guards detained 16 Myanmar people from different points of Teknaf on Thursday.
The schedule of the meeting between Border Guard Bangladesh director general Major General Anwar Hossain and the director general of Myanmar territorial forces Major General U Maung Mang Ohn was finalised earlier and it was reconfirmed in a meeting between BGB and Nasaka held in Cox’s Bazar on June 2.
The BGB director general Major General Anwar Hossain told New Age that Myanmar authorities in a letter requested the BGB to postpone the meeting for the time being as its territorial forces were now busy with additional duties.
‘They informed us that they would reschedule the meeting after the present situation is over,’ he said.
Another move for holding a flag meeting between BGB and Myanmar border guards called Nasaka over intrusion of Myanmar nationals following sectarian violence also became uncertain as Myanmar was showing excuses of ‘other business’.
The Nasaka was invited for a flag meeting on June 8, 13 and 20, but they remained unresponsive and finally said they were not in a position now to come for talks as their forces have been given additional duties of maintaining law and order following clamp down of state of emergency in Rakhaine state.
‘The Nasaka officials told us that they had to perform additional tasks along with Myanmar army following imposition of state of emergency in Rakhaine state. So the meeting became uncertain,’ said Lieutenant Colonel Zahid Hasan, commanding officer of 42 BGB batalion.
In the wake of border tension, Myanmar president Thein Sein has showed interest for visiting Bangladesh, said foreign ministry officials.
Meantime, the BGB on Thursday sent back 10 more Myanmar intruders after arresting 16 Rohingya refugees in Teknaf who trespassed into Bangladesh territory on Wednesday night and Thursday morning.
Lieutenant Colonel Zahid Hasan, commanding officer of 42 BGB battalion, said they did not send back six refugees comprising two women and four children as a newborn baby was among them.
‘The refugees came from Maungdaw in Myanmar on boats and crossed the narrowest breadth of river Naaf sailing straight opposite to the other bank to an area called Najirpara in Teknaf,’ he said.
The BGB diverted their patrolling speedboats from Naaf confluence to Najirpara point as it is the narrowest breadth of the river and the refugees could cross it easily, he said.
Zahid also said they were yet to send back 18 refugees who came from Sittwe as the sea was very rough.