Anxious time for family

Nayek Abdur Razzak

Family members of BGB Nayek Abdur Razzak are worried sick as four days have gone by since he was taken by the Myanmar border guards and not returned.

Soon after he was taken by the Myanmar Border Guard Police (BGP) from near the Naf river in Cox's Bazar early Wednesday, the authorities had assured his family members that he would be returned within a day or two, said Razzak's mother Bulbuli Begum.

“But my son is yet to be freed,” she said.

Razzak's wife Asma Begum said, “He was there to serve the nation … But what is the nation now doing for him?”

Bulbuli, who lives along with family members in Natore, told our correspondent there that the BGB officials had assured them on Wednesday night that her son would be freed after a flag meeting between the two border forces.

An official at the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) headquarters in Dhaka said there was no significant development regarding Razzak's return as of yesterday evening.

The talks were on, said the official, whishing not to be named.

State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal yesterday told BBC Bangla Service, “This much time was never taken in the past ... Nevertheless, they [BGP] did not say anything negative so far. They have always been saying that they would release him.”

The BGP opened fire on a BGB patrol boat near the Naf river in the early hours of Wednesday. A BGB sepoy, Biplob Kumar, suffered bullet wounds while Razzak was taken by the BGP men.

Media published photos of a handcuffed Razzak. Another photo showed bloodstains on his nose.

The photos stirred an outcry. Allegations have been raised that the Myanmar forces apparently mistreated the BGB personnel, the BBC Bangla Service reported.

Asked whether such an incident was a sign of a declining diplomatic relations, minister Kamal told the BBC Bangla Service, “There was no deterioration in our relationship. We have a healthy relationship.”

Razzak is the son of Tofazzal Hossain of Baliabari village in Singra upazila of Natore.

Tofazzal told our Natore correspondent that he wanted to know how his son was in Myanmar but no one could provide him with concrete information.

“The BGB officials are saying that he is well and safe in Myanmar. But we are seeing that BGP men tortured him,” he said, referring to the photos.

He alleged that the BGB and the government were not doing enough for his son's return.