The Myanmar army continues to build bunkers and barbed-wire fences as well as to patrol along the border opposite Tambru under Naikkhangchhari in Bandarban, Bangladesh Border Guard officials said.

These activities are creating panic among the 700,000 Rohingya refugees who have fled Myanmar since August last year, and some 6,500 Rohingyas living on the no-man's land.

The Myanmar forces had briefly halted its activities following a flag meeting between the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Myanmar's Border Guard Police (BGP) on March 2.

But they have resumed the activities in the last few days, according to locals and BGB officials.

During visits to a number of border areas, this correspondent saw Myanmar troops patrolling along the border fence at Tambru of Bangladesh's Naikhyangchhari area.

Nurul Kabir, a resident of Tambru, said Myanmar army personnel often patrol the border.

Mujibur Rahman, nayek subedar of BGB Tambru camp, said, “The Myanmar army has built bunkers near the border and are erecting barbed-wire fences.”

This correspondent also saw workers flanked by Myanmar army and BGP installing barbed-wire fences.

Reha Muth Ullah, a Rohingya refugee living on the no-man's land, said, “The number of Myanmar army personnel is higher than that of their border guards in the area. The army personnel patrol the border area the clock, whereas the border guards are seen during routine patrols.”

“At night, bricks, sticks, bottles and other materials are hurled at us so that we leave the zero point in fear,” said Md Islam of the no-man's land.

“They also fire shots at night to scare us off, although it was not heard in the last three days,” said Md Hubaib, another refugee.

Rohingya leader Dil Mohammad said, “Myanmar troops are using loudspeakers asking us to leave the no-man's land as soon as possible.

“Around 1,000 of us left the area in fear, but around 750 of them have returned again,” he added.

A number of BGB members said they had witnessed presence of Myanmar army along the border.

Almost the same scenario was noticed in Uttarpara, Madhyampara, Purbopara, Baishfari, Bazabunia, Jolpaitoli and Headman Para area of Ghundhum union.

Maj Kazi Manzurul Islam of BGB Tambru camp said, “The Myanmar army is still patrolling the border and has increased its activities. They are also building more bunkers along the border.

“The Myanmar armed forces are trying to scare away the displaced Myanmar nationals living on the no-man's land just before the repatriation process, apparently with an aim to disrupt the repatriation process.”

Bangladesh and Myanmar on November 23 signed an agreement to begin the repatriation of the Rohingyas in January this year. The process has been stalled over technical and ground-level complexities.

Myanmar's legislators have recently passed a military budget of nearly $15 million to erect barbed-wire fences along the border with Bangladesh in Rakhine.

In a statement handed at the March 2 flag meeting between BGB and BGP, Myanmar claimed their increased presence and activities in the border are meant to protect their territory.