Border Guard Bangladesh members have rescued two Myanmar army personnels in the border areas of the hilly district Bandarban. The rescue came on Tuesday on the last day of 10-day operation in the dense forest.
“Primarily, we have learned that the two army personnel were abducted by some terrorists. However, investigation is under way to find out whether they had really been abducted or are just infiltrators,” said Col Khondoker Farid Hassan, a deputy director general of BGB.
“We have informed the Myanmar authorities including their Border Guard Police [BGP] about the rescue,” said Col Farid while speaking at a press briefing at BGB’s headquarters in Dhaka’s Pilkhana yesterday.
He however did not disclose the names or ranks of the two Myanmar army personnels citing state security concerns.
The BGB have been conducting special drives in the hilly border forests of Bandarban to bust militant hideouts.
The first of these drives was conducted in the Thanchi area on February 8-18, second in Nailongchari on May 12-15, third in Thanchi again on June 2-6 and the fourth in Balipara and Alikadam areas on July 5 -14.
During several past flag meetings, the Myanmar authorities have complained to Bangladesh that rebel and terrorist outfits such as the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSo) and the Arakan Army have set up camps inside Bangladesh’s territory, sources said.
According to media reports in Myanmar, a heavy fighting took place between the Myanmar government troops and the rebel Arakan Army in the western part of the country in March.
In reply to a query during yesterday’s briefing, the BGB high official said: “We have conducted the drives to ensure security of our border areas. Moreover, the neighboring country has requested us to help them in take action against organised groups.”
He also said: “The last drive was conducted by a combined team of 16 BGB Battalion, five teams from the Bangladesh Army and other intelligence agencies.”
The two Myanmar armymen were found in the forest on the last day of the last drive. One of them was wounded. He was given medical care and he is doing well now.
Col Farid also said: “Our intelligence sources have informed us that the two Myanmar army personnels had been abducted by some terrorists. During our joint drive, the terrorists escaped leaving them in the forest.”
The BGB formally requested the Myanmar BGP yesterday to take their men back.
