Myanmar says, border deployment for security

Myanmar has stated security concerns as explanation for the heavy reinforcement along Bangladesh's border near Rohingya camps during today's flag meeting between the two border forces.

Our Cox's Bazar correspondent reports, Lt Col Majurul Ahsan Khan, commanding officer of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) battalion 34, raised the question of heavy deployment along the Tombru border and the issue of blank firing during the meet.

Lt Col Khan said, Myanmar denied firing blank shots and said "they (Myanmar) deployed a huge contingent of its army as part of their strategy of internal security".

Also, according to him, Myanmar army assured it will take back all the 6,500 Rohingyas, who have been staying on the no-man's land near Konapara village.

Lt Col Khan said Bangladesh protested Myanmar's movement and raised concerns that it will affect bilateral relation between the two countries and negatively impact the repatriation of the Rohingyas who fled to Bangladesh following persecution in Rahkine.

During the meeting, the BGB official also called upon his counterpart to inform Bangladesh before going for mobilising forces along the border so that no tense situation prevails and no misunderstanding is created between the two countries.

Today's flag meeting was held at 3:30pm and lasted for about an hour and 15 minutes. A seven-member delegation of the BGB sat in talks with a nine-member team of Myanmar's Border Guard Police (BGP) at Ghumdhum Border Observation Post (BOP) in Naikhyangchhari Upazila, Bandarban.

Meanwhile, AFP quotes Myanmar government spokesman Zaw Htay to report that the recent spike in security along the border is a response to new intelligence about the movement of Rohingya militants.