Myanmar Border Guard Police (BGP) expressed their anger when journalists questioned them of the persecution of the Rohingya community at the hands of the Myanmar army, at a joint press briefing of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Myanmar Border Guard Police (BGP).
Many members of the BGP delegation stood and cried "objection" after hearing the question during the press briefing, held at the Pilkhana BGB headquarters in Dhaka on Thursday. They declined to make any comments on the matter.
At the same time, BGB's Additional Director General Brig Gen Md Anisur Rahman said the question was "out of agenda", as the four-day border guard-level summit between BGB and BGP had mainly been held to discuss border security.
"The Rohingya issue is being discussed at a higher level," said Anisur. "The foreign ministry and different international organizations are looking into the matter. This particular topic is out of our agenda."
On the other hand, Police Brig Gen Myo Than, chief of police general staff of Myanmar BGP claimed BGP has never used any mines or improvised explosive devices (IED) on the border between Bangladesh and Myanmar.
Previously, several incidents of landmine explosions on the Bangladesh-Myanmar border during the plight of the Rohingya refugees from Rakhine to Bangladesh raised concerns among different organizations, home and abroad.
Two Rohingya children were injured after a landmine explosion at Uttar Para of Myanmar, near pillar no 34 of the border fence Bandarban'sNaikhongchhariupazila on September 5, 2017.
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In another incident, three people were killed, and another three more injured in landmine explosions on the Bangladesh-Myanmar border on September 9, 2017.
The explosion took place at Naryangoong village of Northern Maungdaw, Rakhine, while persecuted Rohingyas were heading to Bangladesh fleeing violence in Myanmar.
Additional Director General (operation and training) of BGB Brig Gen Mujibur Rahman told journalists BGB and BGP had held discussions about the landmine and IED explosions during the four-day long summit.
Mujibur confirmed BGP's claims of never using any such devices. Moreover, BGP assured they would cooperate with BGB to dispose any landmine or IED found on the borders, he said.
"This agenda will be carried to the highest level," said Mujibur.
The conference between Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Myanmar Border Guard Police (BGP) ended on Thursday; delegations from both sides agreed to prevent transnational crime, enhance border security, and ensure better border management.
BGB Additional Director General Brig Gen Md Anisur Rahman led the 15-member Bangladesh delegation, while the 11-member Myanmar delegation was led by Police Brigadier General Myo Than, chief of police general staff of Myanmar.
Both sides have agreed to curb: drug smuggling, illegal arms trading, women and child trafficking, as well as all other crimes—by initiating joint-border patrols, increasing surveillance of border areas, and maintaining communication between field-level commanders of the two countries.
Border security issues, including: preventing the smuggling of illegal drugs, especially yaba pills; firing at the frontier by BGP and Myanmar’s army; trespassing into Bangladesh territory by Myanmar nationals; operating Myanmar military helicopters and drones at border areas; removing landmines and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) from the no-man’s land of the border; setting up a Border Liaison Office; implementing development activities on the frontiers; and steps to increase mutual cooperation as well as confidence—were on the agenda of the border talks.
