Myanmar has claimed that the Arakan Army and terrorist group ARSA used the same weapons and attacked the Taungpyo (Right) Border Guard Police Outpost at BP-34 on September 16 and 17, 2022 when nine mortar shells landed on Bangladeshi soil. Zaw Phyo Win, Director-General of Strategic Studies and Training Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Myanmar met Manjurul Karim Khan Chowdhury, Ambassador of Bangladesh to Myanmar, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Yangon on Monday. The director-general claimed that Arakan Army and terrorist group ARSA have been deliberately carrying out such attacks to cause “negative consequences” on the existing “cordial bilateral relations” between Bangladesh and Myanmar, according to the Myanmar Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Also read: MOFA lodges strong protest over Myanmar’s mortar shells into Bangladesh He said Myanmar will cooperate with Bangladesh to maintain peace in the border areas and stressed the significance of full and reciprocal cooperation from the Bangladesh side. The director-general stated that while taking the necessary security measures close to the border with utmost caution, the Myanmar side always abides by bilateral agreements and international norms as well as respects the integrity and sovereignty of all nations, including Bangladesh. He recalled that on September 7, 2022, the Bangladeshi side was notified of the information of the trenches and bases of the AA and ARSA terrorists located “inside Bangladesh” through diplomatic channel and reiterated Myanmar’s call to take necessary and immediate actions to investigate on the ground and dismantle those structures and bases. Also read: Unexploded mortar shells found near Bangladesh-Myanmar border Later, he handed over a non-paper containing the Myanmar version of the incidents to the Bangladesh ambassador. During the meeting, the director-general clarified the prevailing on-the-ground situations regarding the firing incidents near Myanmar-Bangladesh border in response to issues raised by the Bangladesh side at the meetings between Myanmar ambassador to Bangladesh and director-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh. The director-general apprised that AA and terrorist group ARSA attacked the Taungpyo (Left) Border Guard Police Outpost at BP-31 with mortars on September 16, 2022 when three mortar shells landed inside Bangladesh territory. Read Malaysian foreign minister, int’l lawmakers demand decisive action on Myanmar

Law enforcement agencies have further strengthened security measures along Bangladesh-Myanmar border at Naikhongchhari point as locals reported firing from helicopters from the Myanmar side today (September 3, 2022), says an official. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will summon Myanmar Ambassador to Bangladesh Aung Kyaw Moe again on Sunday to lodge strong protest regarding the matter, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam told UNB. Around 9:20 am two helicopters and two aircraft appeared between pillar No 40 and 41 under Reju Amtali Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) BOP at Ghumdhum union of the upazila, said Md Jahangir Aziz, Chairman of Ghumdhum Union Parishad. “Two mortar shells fell 120 meters inside the Bangladesh border,” he said. For last few days tension has been growing along the Myanmar border with Bangladesh which has also spread among locals at Naikhongchhari and Ghumdhum border areas, said Md Tariqul Islam, Superintendent of Bandarban police. “Today locals have reported spotting firingfrom a Myanmar helicopter near the border and two mortar shells dropped from it” he said. The law enforcement agencies including Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) remains alert and intelligence surveillance has also been increased near the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, said SP Tariqul Islam. Also read: “BGB vigilant, none can enter from Myanmar now” On Thursday, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam said Bangladesh is better prepared so that none can enter from Myanmar now due to the deteriorated situation in Rakhine state.   The Myanmar side was warned twice in August following mortar shells landing in Bangladesh territory from Myanmar and strong protest was lodged in this regard. “We do not want to step into Myanmar's provocation or trap,” he said, adding that they (Myanmar side) might have a strategic benefit if they can move in such a unilateral direction. Also read: MOFA lodges strong protest over Myanmar’s mortar shells into Bangladesh The Ministry of Foreign Affairs last Monday summoned Myanmar Ambassador to Bangladesh Aung Kyaw Moe and lodged a strong protest against Myanmar’s mortar shells landing inside Bangladesh territory a day earlier.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday summoned Myanmar Ambassador to Bangladesh Aung Kyaw Moe and lodged a strong protest against Myanmar’s mortar shells inside Bangladesh territory a day earlier. "We have lodged a strong protest with Myanmar so that such incidents do not happen again. We have also strongly condemned the incident," Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Read: Canada's contribution to Bangladesh's development historic: GM QuaderHe said a note verbale was handed over to the ambassador.On Sunday, the foreign secretary said it will first be investigated whether the firing of unexploded mortar shells on the Bangladesh border was an accident or intentional.Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) stepped up its vigilance along Bangladesh-Myanmar border in Bandarban area after two Myanmar mortar shells landed in an area near Tambru under Naikkhangchhari in Bandarban on Sunday afternoon.Locals got panicked seeing the mortar shells which remained unexploded.  

Two unexploded mortar shell were found near the Bangladesh-Myanmar border in Tumbru Uttar para area of Bandarban’s Naikhongchhari upazila on Sunday afternoon. AKM Jahangir Aziz, Chairman of Ghumghum Union Parishad, said that locals came to know about the mortar shells due to a loud sound created by it. “We’re shifting people from the area. A large number of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members have been deployed to avert any untoward situation,” Aziz said. Also read: Dhaka to lodge protest against Myanmar shelling mortars into Bangladesh: FS Wishing not to be named, a BGB member said that the mortar shells were fired by the Myanmar army. Tariqul Islam, Superintendent of Police (SP) of Bandarban district, confirmed the matter, saying that people of the area have been told to remain alert. According to locals, a fighting has been raging between the Myanmar army and the insurgent group Arakan Army in the Rakhine state for the last two weeks. A fierce fighting between the two forces broke out on Sunday, resulting in patrolling by helicopters and fighting jets of Myanmar on the border skies. Also read: Int'l community urged to intensify pressure on Myanmar military to stop violence against its people The finding of the mortar shells is likely to be related to the fighting, said the local administration.

Police on Friday recovered two mortar shells and a rocket launcher from a pond near Shaheed Shamsuzzoha Hall of Rajshahi University. A local boy found them around noon and informed police. Motihar Police Station’s Sub-Inspector Imran Hossain said the mortar shells and rocket launcher were kept at the police box near the Baddhabhumi area of the university. RU Proctor Professor Lutfor Rahman said there was a Pakistani army camp during the Liberation War where the mortar shells were found. “We suspect these to be from the Liberation War period,” he said. Shaheed Shamsuzzoha Hall was used as a camp by the Pakistani occupation force during the war. Recently, ammunitions, believed to be from that period, were found from a pond near the hall. Last week, another mortar shell was found from the same pond during excavation, which was destroyed by the army the next day.