Gunfire on BGB: Myanmar yet to respond

Myanmar border force is yet to respond to a flag meeting proposal over gunfire on their Bangladesh counterpart and “abduction” of a Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) trooper.

More than 24 hours have passed since the incident, but there has been no report of a response until noon today, reports our Cox’s Bazar correspondent.

BGB offered for a flag meeting after the incident and expected it to take place at 10:00am today. But, an official of the paramilitary force sought anonymity to tell The Daily Star that there has been no response thus far.

The official statement of the BGB said that Myanmar border guards opened gunfire on a routine patrol of the Bangladesh border troopers along the Naf river around 5:30am yesterday.

A BGB member sepoy Biplob Kumar was bullet-hit and another Nayek Abdur Razzak was “abducted” by the Myanmar border force. BGB said it was all a “misunderstanding” that led to the incident.

The official statement also added that Myanmar acknowledged that Razzak was along with them and will be returned after “completion of some formalities”.

State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan also told journalists that it was a misunderstanding and added that such incidents will be averted in the future.

On May 28 last year, the BGP without any provocation shot at a BGB patrol team at Naikkhangchhari border in Bandarban, leaving BGB nayek Mizanur Rahman dead.

The Myanmar force then intruded into Bangladesh and took away his body, his firearm and ammunition, creating tension at the border.