330 Myanmar nationals repatriated amid tight security

Bangladesh on Thursday repatriated 330 Myanmar nationals, including members of its army, Border Guard Police (BGP), and civilians who entered Bangladesh amid internal conflict at their border.

The Myanmar nationals, including 302 Border Guard Police (BGP) members, four BGP family members, two army personnel, 18 immigration personnel and four civilians, were escorted by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and handed over to the BGP, a BGB press release said.

The Bangladeshi ship Karnaphuli left the Inani naval jetty around 12pm with 165 of the people bound for the Myanmar Navy ship waiting at the maritime border of Bangladesh.

The rest of the people were also sent back after the Karnaphuli ship returned, said Director General of Bangladesh Border Guard Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui.

A delegation of five members from the Myanmar BGP, led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Myo Thura Naung arrived in Bangladesh on Thursday to take the Myanmar residents home.

Earlier in the morning, the 330 people were brought to the naval jetty of Inani, Cox's Bazar from Ghumdhum border of Naikhongchhari upazila of Bandarban and Teknaf upazila of Cox's Bazar, confirmed BGB's public relations officer, Shariful Islam.

The transfer was facilitated by six buses under strict security of the BGB from Nhila and Ghumdum points to Inani earlier in the day, Shariful added.

Myanmar Ambassador to Bangladesh U Aung Kyaw Moe, Director of Myanmar Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Md Barikul Islam, Deputy Secretary of Public Security Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs Rashed Hossain Chowdhury, BGB Director General Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui and some other officials were present at the location.

Earlier on 13 February, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said Myanmar had agreed to take back their security force members.

"They [Myanmar] have sent a message to us saying that they will take them back by ship very soon. Hopefully, they will take their members back within a couple of days. They have no conflict with us, no war," the home minister said.

Rebel factions in Rakhine state have been locked in clashes with Myanmar's military junta since (3 February, primarily over the control of a border camp.

Persistent gunfire, shelling, and rocket explosions have marked the ongoing conflict.

Bangladeshis living in the border area have reported intense fighting, and there are concerns about the use of army helicopters strafing rebel fighters, heightening worries of substantial casualties.

International media reports suggested several more insurgent groups, some forming alliances among them, are confronting the government army in several parts of Myanmar.

Meanwhile, two people were killed inside the Bangladesh border on 5 February after heavy mortar shells reportedly fired from Myanmar landed and exploded inside the Ghumdum border in Bandarban.

Bangladesh's border with Myanmar stretches 271.0 kilometres (168.4 miles), from the tri-point with India in the north to the Bay of Bengal in the south.

Moreover, on 9 February, BGB personnel arrested 23 Rohingyas attempting to enter Bangladesh, seizing 12 firearms and some 868 rounds of ammunition.

A subsequent case was filed at the Ukhiya police station under the Arms Act, leading to a court mandating a 3-day remand for each individual involved.

Earlier, Bangladesh played a critical role in sheltering over a million Muslim minority Rohingyas who fled their home in Rakhine and took refuge in Bangladesh to evade persecution, particularly after a 2017 army crackdown but the current crisis visibly has little to do with the Rohingyas.

BGB on high alert to prevent further illegal entry

The Border Guard Bangladesh says it is on high alert and has stepped up vigilance with deploying more manpower along the borders with Myanmar to prevent any illegal entry and face any possible situation.   

"The BGB is constantly monitoring the border situation from a high alert position. At present, the situation is completely under the control of the BGB," the BGB Director General said at a press briefing in Cox's Bazar on Thursday. 

The BGB Chief reiterated the border guards' firm commitment for protecting the country's sovereignty, integrity and security along with saving border people and their property. 

"No matter the situation, we'll never step back," he said, adding, "Not a single Myanmar citizen will be allowed to enter Bangladesh through the border.