The Border Guard Police (BGP) has officially expressed their regret over the recent incidents of continuous shelling and fire of bullets along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border due to the ongoing violence in Rakhine state for the last two months.
In a flag meeting between the two countries border security forces on Sunday, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) strongly condemned the situation and asked the BGP to maintain peace on the border.
The flag meeting started at 10am which was attended by a nine-member Bangladesh delegation led by Teknaf-2 BGB Battalion Commander Lt Colonel Sheikh Khalid Mohammad Iftekhar and a seven-member delegation led by Lt Col Kao Na Yan Shor, commanding officer of BGP-1.
In a press briefing at 4:30pm on Sunday, Lt Col Sheikh Khalid Mohammad Iftekhar said: "In the flag meeting, there was a fruitful discussion about illegal infiltration of Myanmar citizens and prevention of drug trafficking. Mutual communication between the border security forces of the two friendly states is emphasized to create an environment of trust and confidence.”
For the last two months, the head of the Bangladesh delegation strongly protested the helicopter flight of the Myanmar security forces over the border area, the firing of small arms and heavy weapons, and the loss of life and property, Lt Col Iftekhar continued.
The BGP was called upon to keep a watchful eye to ensure that no bullets are fired inside Bangladesh in the future as a byproduct of Myanmar's internal conflict, he added.
In this regard, the BGP battalion commander officially expressed regret for the recent incidents.
Ramu Sector Commander Colonel Mohammad Azizur Rauf and Cox's Bazar Group Commander Lt Col Ahmad Tariq Kabir were also present at the press briefing.