Bangladesh has proposed setting up a border liaison office in Teknaf of Cox’s Bazar in order to smoothen joint efforts with Myanmar to curb trans-boundary crimes and illegal trespassing.
The proposal was placed on day one of the four-day border conference between Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Myanmar’s Border Guard Police (BGP) at the BGB Headquarters in Dhaka.
“We detailed the plan for the liaison office and how it can benefit both countries in maintaining congenial relations,” said a BGB official who attended the conference.
The Bangladesh side also expressed concerns over illegal crossing of the border by Myanmar nationals. Myanmar’s border police however said they had installed a fence to prevent trespassing.
In the last conference, Bangladesh handed over of a list of 39 factories making contraband yaba pills in Myanmar territory to be smuggled across the border and the names and photographs of eight drug lords based in Mongdu.
Yesterday, BGB asked for a follow-up on the matter. “The issue was not discussed in detail this time. The BGP said they had been working on it but did not disclose if they had taken any action,” the BGB official said.
The BGP sought updates on some rebels of the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation reportedly hiding in Bangladesh.
“We said our law enforcement agencies are looking into the matter seriously,” the official said.
Myanmar yesterday proposed setting up three more border ports in addition to the existing one at Teknaf. “We are now trying to find out how it [the border posts] could affect the two countries,” the BGB official said.
The six-member Myanmar delegation is led by Police Brigadier General Thein Oo. Brig Gen Latiful Haider, BGB additional director general, is heading the 16-member Bangladesh delegation.
The Bangladesh team includes representatives from the Home and Foreign ministries, the Survey of Bangladesh and the Narcotics Department.
Brig Gen Latiful Haider refused to formally comment on the issues discussed in the meeting.
Over the last few years, Bangladesh has been trying to build a warm relationship with the Myanmar border guards; but there has been very little response.
The relationship deteriorated following the death of BGB Naik Mizanur Rahman, who was shot dead at Naikkhyangchhari in Bandarban on May 28 this year by BGP personnel.
