330 Myanmar BGP members, others sent back

A total of 330 members of Myanmar government forces including Border Guard Police (BGP), who took refuge in Bangladesh during the recent conflict in the border areas, have been sent back.

They were handed over to the Myanmar authorities at the Bangladesh Navy jetty in Cox’s Bazar’s Inani on Thursday morning.

A five-member delegation of Myanmar led by BGP Colonel Mayo Thura received their nationals from Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). BGB Director General Major General Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui and Myanmar Ambassador to Bangladesh U Aung Kyaw Moe were present during this time. 

Earlier, the Myanmar soldiers were taken to Inani from various schools in Bandarban’s Naikkhongchhari and Cox’s Bazar’s Teknaf.

After the handover ceremony, BGB Director General told the journalists that the BGB handed over the 330 Myanmar nationals, who escaped to Bangladesh amid conflict, to the BGP.

Of them, 302 were BGP members, four were family members of the BGP personnel, 18 were immigration members, two were army members and four were civilians, he added.

The Myanmar officials started crossing border since February 4 amid heavy fighting in Myanmar between its forces and rebel group Arakan Army.