Myanmar army has allegedly set up four temporary camps near Bangladesh border, violating international border rules.
According to the Border Guard Bangladesh, Myanmar army established the camps at Saludong in Myanmar, approximately 300 yards from the zero line, on January 11. The place is near pillar 45 on Bangladesh side and named Sarajamchori opposite Ashartoli in Naikkhangchhari.
A total of 24 members of Myanmar army are discharging duties in each camp.
On January 21, the BGB Operation Department informed the home ministry about the development through a letter.
BGB officials said as per the international border rules, Myanmar could not set up camps so close to Bangladesh border.
Lt Col Md Shafiqur Rahman of 31 BGB Battalion strongly protested the move.
In a protest letter, a copy of which is available with the Dhaka Tribune, Shafiqur referred to the bilateral commitment according to which army could not come or stationed at a close proximity of border.
The letter said Myanmar army’s move was a clear violation of the international law and breach of the Bangladesh-Myanmar Border Agreement 1980.
According to officials, the presence of army near the border is a clear threat to the peace-loving border population.
“We have strongly protested the move of setting up temporary camps by Myanmar army,” BGB DG Major General Aziz Ahmed told the Dhaka Tribune over phone yesterday.
While talking to this correspondent, he was on his official tour to Sylhet.
The BGB DG said Myanmar had claimed that they were constructing roads there. “But we are not ignoring the matter and we are aware of it,” he said.
Aziz said: “Our intelligence agencies are collecting information to verify their claim.”
When contacted home ministry’s Senior Secretary CQK Mustaq Ahmed declined to make any comment, saying: “The matter is yet to come to my notice, and until it does I cannot make any comment.”