Bangladesh puts border guards on high alert after Myanmar shelling
In less than a month, Bangladesh’s foreign ministry on Sunday summoned Myanmar’s envoy for the fourth time to warn over the repeated shelling inside Bangladesh
The government has put the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the Bangladesh Coast Guard on "high alert" with "reinforcement" if required on the Bangladesh-Myanmar border after repeated firing of mortar shells inside Bangladesh, said acting Foreign Secretary Rear Admiral (Retd) Md Khurshed Alam.
After reiterating "deep concern" over the shelling by summoning Myanmar ambassador to Dhaka on Sunday, the acting foreign secretary told journalists on Sunday afternoon that Bangladesh is a "responsible and peace-loving" country and they are "observing and tolerating" the situation along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border with patience.
Asked who will take the responsibility of a recent death due to the shelling, the acting foreign secretary said they cannot say exactly who had fired the bullet.
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Earlier on the day, summoned Myanmar Ambassador to Dhaka Aung Kyaw Moe arrived at the foreign ministry – for the fourth time in a month.
The ambassador was summoned to the office of Md Najmul Huda, the director general of South East Asia wing, who is also acting DG of Myanmar wing of the foreign ministry, a foreign ministry source told The Business Standard.
Afterwards, Aung Jyaw Moe claimed the Arakan Army was stealing bullets from the Myanmar Army and shelling on the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.
The acting foreign secretary said the Myanmar side claimed the Arakan Army is trying to create tensions between the two neighbouring countries.
"In such a situation it is difficult to determine who will take the responsibility."
Talking to reporters at the ministry, he said Bangladesh had conveyed to the Myanmar ambassador that what is happening in Myanmar was their internal issue and the Myanmar side needs to think how they will solve it.
He said Bangladesh strongly told the ambassador to take steps to prevent repetition of such incidents which lead to deaths and injuries inside Bangladesh.
The acting foreign secretary said the Myanmar envoy listened to the Bangladesh side and assured that he would report to the headquarters.
He said Bangladesh is not demonstrating any weakness, rather it is conveying its message to Myanmar from a very strong position.
Earlier, Dhaka reiterated its "deep concern" over the recent incidents of Myanmar's mortar shelling, indiscriminate aerial firing in the bordering areas, and air space violations.
On Saturday, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said the government is trying to resolve the issue with Myanmar peacefully and diplomatically but a complaint will be lodged to the United Nations regarding mortar shelling at the border if necessary.
On Friday night, 17-year-old Rohingya Mohammad Iqbal was killed and five others injured when a mortar shell fired by the Myanmar army exploded at the Zero Point Rohingya Camp close to the international border in Tombru, Bandarban.
The deceased and injured were all residents of the Zero Point Rohingya Camp, the camp closest to the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, in No Man's Land.
Four mortar shells landed in succession at the Rohingya camp around 8pm.
Earlier, indigenous youth Anganthowai Tanchangya was grievously injured in a landmine explosion along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border in Naikhongchhari upazila of Bandarban on Friday noon. Locals said the Myanmar army had planted mines in the area.
Twelve mortar shells have been fired by the Myanmar army on Bangladesh territory so far.
