The Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) forces are remaining alert but are not concerned over reports that Myanmar has deployed three regular army battalions along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.
“We are yet to get any indication [of army deployment by Myanmar] from our troops deployed along the border. We are watchful, but not worried about it,” BGB Director General Major General Aziz said on Saturday.
The BGB chief said he had heard about the deployment of Myanmar army personnel along the border from various sources but could not confirm it. “It will take time to be sure about it,” he said.
Aziz also said, as per the information they gathered from the BGB members engaged along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, there was nothing abnormal in sight there.
He said the Myanmar authorities could position their army forces near the border to ensure the security of the police force deployed along its border after the country’s Nasaka border force disbanded.
Asked what steps would be taken if Myanmar deployed their army along the border, the BGB chief said they would take every necessary measure depending on the evolution of the situation.
Meanwhile, the media in Myanmar, citing security sources, reported that the authorities had deployed three army battalions along the Bangladesh border in order to tighten security. They also said the army was already camped within five miles of the Myanmar-Bangladesh border.
Two police battalions would be sent later, the ELEVEN Myanmar channel quoted the Rakhine State chief minister as saying.
The northern and southern regions of Maungtaw are currently under the guard of the Myanmar police after the former Nasaka border guard force was disbanded.
During a meeting between the Rakhine state government and the general administration department, the Maungtaw district governor proposed keeping one police station in both the north and south regions of Maungtaw
According to another Myanmar media source, Maungdaw Township Administrative Chief Kyi Than had urged the Rakhine State Minister of Security and Border Affairs Colonel Htein Lin to deploy more police to provide security in Maungdaw district, five miles from the Bangladesh border.
Chief Kyi Than made the demand at a meeting between the Rakhine state government and the Rakhine state general administrative department held on September 17.
“After the Nasaka was dissolved, police battalions have provided security. But, the southern and the northern regions of Maungdaw district are border areas and security has to be tight. Therefore, I have asked Colonel Htein Lin to deploy more policemen in the area,” he said.
The state government said that more than 700 security police had been deployed across Maungdaw district.
Attorney General Hla Thein said: “The Rakhine State Minister for Security and Border Affairs Colonel Htein Lin has informed us that that they are preparing to deploy two more security battalions.”
He added that, in accordance with plans made by the Rakhine state chief minister and commander of Western Command, Colonel Htein Lin had already deployed three army battalions and heavily armed policemen in the area.
The Nasaka was instituted to enforce border security in Rakhine state by the former junta in 1991. It comprised officers from the army, police, customs department and immigration department. It had 32 officers at 11 check posts in Rakhine state.
