A delegation from Myanmar, led by Ambassador Aung Kyaw Moe, arrived at the Naval jetty ghat in Inani, Cox’s Bazar district, on Thursday (February 15, 2024), aboard a speedboat at 9:50 am, to repatriate 330 members of the Myanmar security forces and others who had sought refuge in Bangladesh.  The group had crossed into Bangladesh, fleeing clashes between the Myanmar military and armed rebel groups. Read: 330 BGP members, others to be handed over to Myanmar authorities Thursday: BGB  The repatriation, supervised by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), involves individuals including members of the Myanmar Border Guard Police (BGP). The process was earlier confirmed by BGB's public relations officer, Shariful Islam, who also noted that the transfer involved six buses transporting the individuals from Nhila and Ghumdum points to Inani earlier that day. Home Minister, Asaduzzaman Khan, had previously indicated that the repatriation of these individuals was imminent, amidst ongoing border tensions and skirmishes in the Bandarban's Naikhongchhari area. In light of the conflict, the BGB and Coast Guard have ramped up surveillance efforts to prevent further crossings. This border tension has led to casualties on the Bangladeshi side, including the deaths of a Bangladeshi woman and a Rohingya man due to mortar shell impacts from Myanmar. An unidentified body was also found on February 8 in the Rahmaterbil border area of Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, as reported by Md Shamim Hossain, Officer-in-Charge of Ukhiya Police Station. Read: DMP forms 'quick response team' to ease movements of SSC examinees   Additionally, on February 9, BGB personnel detained 23 Rohingyas with 12 firearms and 868 rounds of ammunition as they attempted to cross into Bangladesh. A case was subsequently filed under the Arms Act at Ukhiya police station, with a court ordering a 3-day remand for each individual involved.

Shafiul Alam, a resident of Ghumdhum’s Jalpaitoli, a once quiet village in the border district of Bandarban, is now counting his days wracked by a complex cocktail of human emotions. His life took an unexpected turn on February 5, as his mother lost her life when a stray mortar shell fired from Myanmar landed in their under-construction house, which also left his two children with shrapnel wounds on their feet, and took the life of a Rohingya construction worker. He is not even in a situation to grieve properly as he has to think about how to treat his children with little to no help. The children only survived as they were inside their home at the time, while their grandmother was serving lunch to the construction worker.   2 SSC exam centres along BD-Myanmar border relocated Bandarban's Deputy Commissioner Shah Mojahid Uddin and Superintendent of Police Saikat Shahin later paid a visit to the family. A mere donation of Tk 20,000 was offered as immediate assistance, but the bereaved family expressed dissatisfaction with the government's support process.  Their plea is clear: they seek international intervention to ensure justice and an end to their current situation of fearing for their lives every moment of the day. Shafiul is not alone, the repercussions of Myanmar's civil war extend beyond Shafiul's family. Thousands of bordering residents of the country are now passing each day fearing for their lives. Don’t want to share specific date but Myanmar security forces to go back soon: Hasan Mahmud In Tumbru and surrounding areas, at least 12 people have been shot and injured, their suffering further exacerbated by the lack of medical treatment and government support. The victims are now only pleading for assistance, to save their lives which reveals a bitter reality of the toll that geopolitical strife takes on ordinary lives. Unidentified man’s body found along Bangladesh-Myanmar border in Cox’s Bazar

The Bangladesh Consulate in Sittwe, Myanmar will soon be shifted to Yangon on a temporary basis due to the current security situation there. “A verbal instruction has already been given. Process is underway,” a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told UNB on Sunday (February 11, 2024). Other foreign missions stationed in Sittwe are also moving to Yangon on security grounds. Read more: 327 Myanmar security forces taking shelter in Bangladesh: BGB Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Saturday said the process of sending back the Myanmar security forces who took shelter in Bangladesh is underway following discussions between the two countries. He said it was not just the members of Myanmar's Border Guard Police (BGP) and army who had fled to Bangladesh, there were some civilians too. And over a hundred people have also entered India. "They also took them back (from India). Several members of their families, along with their border forces and army, have also fled from Myanmar to our country. Our Ambassador had a meeting with the Foreign Minister of Myanmar. Myanmar agreed to take them back," said the Foreign Minister. Read more: Myanmar border unrest: Tourist ship services on Teknaf-Saint Martin’s route suspended indefinitely

The local administration has suspended the movement of tourist ships on the Teknaf-Saint Martin’s route from February 10 until further notice due to unrest along the Myanmar border. Cox's Bazar Additional District Magistrate Yamin Hossain confirmed the matter on Wednesday (February 07, 2024) night. 64 more members of Myanmar security forces enter Bangladesh on Wednesday: BGB Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Adnan Chowdhury said all ships will be able to operate on the Teknaf-St Martin’s route til Friday (February 9). Although the movement of tourist ships from Teknaf will be closed, the movement of ships from Chattogram and Cox's Bazar will continue, he added. 327 Myanmar security forces taking shelter in Bangladesh: BGB Meanwhile, tension is increasing on the Naikhongchhari border in Bandarban as the violent bconflict in Myanmar has not stopped. Firing is still going on on the other side of the border. Locals are fleeing their homes in panic as gunfire has increased in the border areas of Ghumdhum and Tumbru over the last few days. In the last few days of conflict inside Myanmar, life on the other side has come to a standstill, and local residents are living in fear. What the BGB DG said during visit to Bangladesh-Myanmar border today After inspecting the border situation on February 6, Bandarban Deputy Commissioner Shah Mojahid Uddin urged locals to remain alert in the Ghumdhum border area of Naikhongchhari as well as to go to the shelter centres. BGB’s Director General Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui also urged the border residents to go to safe shelters.

In a statement during his visit to the Bangladesh-Myanmar border in Cox’s Bazar today (February 07, 2024), Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, newly appointed Director General of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), declared the force’s high alert status to address any potential border-related incidents. During the visit, Major General Siddiqui underscores the BGB’s commitment to maintaining security and sovereignty while adhering to humanitarian principles and fostering positive international relations. “The border situation is fully under control, and we are dedicated to managing it with patience, humanitarian considerations, and in a manner that respects our international obligations, as directed by the Prime Minister. Under no circumstances will illegal entry into Bangladesh be permitted,” Major General Siddiqui emphasized. His remarks came during a thorough inspection of the border outposts at Tambru and Ghumdum areas within the Naikhongchhari upazila. This tour included assessments of the operational conditions and morale among BGB personnel stationed along this critical frontier. No more Rohingyas to be allowed in: New BGB Chief Major General Siddiqui’s directive to the border guards highlighted the importance of professionalism and vigilance in safeguarding the border against any arising challenges. Furthermore, the BGB Director General took a moment to inquire about the welfare of Myanmar security forces and army personnel who have sought refuge in Bangladesh during the ongoing conflicts in Myanmar. To date, Bangladesh has provided asylum to 264 members of the Myanmar forces, including Border Guard Police (BGP), army personnel, and immigration officials, amidst ongoing clashes with the Arakan Army. The BGB has responsibly disarmed the asylum-seeking Myanmar forces, ensuring their safety and security within Bangladesh’s borders. This series of actions by the BGB and its leadership reflects Bangladesh’s balanced approach to border security, combining strict enforcement with a compassionate response to regional instability and humanitarian needs. Police working with BGB to ensure security at Bangladesh-Myanmar border: IGP

So far, 264 Myanmar forces, including BGP and army personnel, have fled and taken shelter in Bangladesh amid clashes between the Myanmar military and the armed rebel group, Arakan Army, said Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, director general of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). “The border situation is now under control and we are trying to deal with the situation as humanely as possible while maintaining international relations,” the newly appointed BGB chief said while talking to reporters after paying tribute at the mausoleum of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on Tuesday. Police working with BGB to ensure security at Bangladesh-Myanmar border: IGP Until Monday night, 115 Myanmar forces had taken shelter in Bangladesh and 114 security personnel arrived till Tuesday morning while 35 more entered in the afternoon, he said. So far, a total of 264 Myanmar security personnel have surrendered, he added. “We have given shelter and food to them. Among them 15 were injured. Eight of them were undergoing treatment at Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital and Chattogram Medical College and Hospital,” said the BGB DG. Tension at the border: What Dhaka told the Myanmar Ambassador Two people including a Bangladeshi woman were killed following an explosion of a mortar shell on Monday, he said, adding, “Such deaths can’t be acceptable.” Besides, 65 Rohingyas, who tried to enter the country by boats, were sent back, he said. “No more Rohingya will be allowed,” said the BGB chief.