Joint forces launch drive to flush out Myanmar rebels

BGB man hurt in militant firing along Bandarban border

A joint force comprising members of the Army and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) launched a combing operation to flush out Myanmarese insurgents from Bandarban district’s Thanchi upazila yesterday afternoon.
Acting on a directive from higher authorities, the joint force started the operation against members of Arakan Army, a separatist group of Myanmar, after the insurgents attacked a BGB camp in Baromodak yesterday morning.
One BGB personnel, Nayek Zakir Hossain, suffered bullet injuries in the attack. He is undergoing treatment at the Combined Military Hospital in Chittagong and his condition is stated to be stable.
According to local people, about 800 insurgents from Arakan Army were staying in the Bangladeshi territory of Baromodak, eight km away from the border with Myanmar.
Paramilitary sources said BGB higher ups have urged the Border Guard Police (BGP) of Myanmar through diplomatic channels to seal their border points to help arrest the insurgents.
Locals said the Myanmarese rebels had attacked the BGB camp in Baromodak after security personnel seized 13 horses from a temporary camp of Arakan Army on Wednesday evening. The Myanmarese separatists used the horses to transport goods as well as to move around the remote border area.
BGB director general (DG) Maj. Gen. Aziz Ahmed, at a press conference at the force’s headquarters in Dhaka, said the operation would continue till all the members of Arakan Army are flushed out from Bangladeshi territory.
“Personnel from BGB and the Army have already been deployed in the remote area of Thanchi to carry out the special operation. More troops are being flown into the area by helicopter to reinforce their positions,” he said.
“We may increase our strength at the border, if necessary,” he added.
The BGB DG said the members of Arakan Army may have managed to sneak into Bangladeshi territory due to the absence of a border outpost (BoP) in the area. “And that is why we carry out special drives frequently at the border points,” he added.
He corroborated the locals by informing that the BGB had detained 13 horses used by Arakan Army and that is why the insurgents shot at the security camp.  Local tribes said they could identify Arakan Army members by their uniforms and pattern of activities in remote border areas.
According to sources, two horses of Arakan Army were killed in the gunfire. The 13 horses seized were handed over to the local police station.
A BGB source said they will inquire into the matter of the horses seized from the possession of Arakan Army. “A senior army officer said that a section of local tribals may have links with the Myanmarese separatists,” the source added.

A foreign ministry official said they are monitoring the situation. “We are also in touch with the Bangladeshi mission in Myanmar,” he added.  
When contacted, BGB sector commander of Bandarban region Col Waliur Rahman refused to comment on the combing operation.

Joint forces launch drive to flush out Myanmar rebels

BGB man hurt in militant firing along Bandarban border

A joint force comprising members of the Army and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) launched a combing operation to flush out Myanmarese insurgents from Bandarban districts Thanchi upazila yesterday afternoon. Acting on a directive from higher authorities, the joint force started the operation against members of Arakan Army, a separatist group of Myanmar, after the insurgents attacked a BGB camp in Baromodak yesterday morning. One BGB personnel, Nayek Zakir Hossain, suffered bullet injuries in the attack. He is undergoing treatment at the Combined Military Hospital in Chittagong and his condition is stated to be stable. According to local people, about 800 insurgents from Arakan Army were staying in the Bangladeshi territory of Baromodak, eight km away from the border with Myanmar. Paramilitary sources said BGB higher ups have urged the Border Guard Police (BGP) of Myanmar through diplomatic channels to seal their border points to help arrest the insurgents. Locals said the Myanmarese rebels had attacked the BGB camp in Baromodak after security personnel seized 13 horses from a temporary camp of Arakan Army on Wednesday evening. The Myanmarese separatists used the horses to transport goods as well as to move around the remote border area. BGB director general (DG) Maj. Gen. Aziz Ahmed, at a press conference at the forces headquarters in Dhaka, said the operation would continue till all the members of Arakan Army are flushed out from Bangladeshi territory. Personnel from BGB and the Army have already been deployed in the remote area of Thanchi to carry out the special operation. More troops are being flown into the area by helicopter to reinforce their positions, he said. We may increase our strength at the border, if necessary, he added. The BGB DG said the members of Arakan Army may have managed to sneak into Bangladeshi territory due to the absence of a border outpost (BoP) in the area. And that is why we carry out special drives frequently at the border points, he added. He corroborated the locals by informing that the BGB had detained 13 horses used by Arakan Army and that is why the insurgents shot at the security camp. Local tribes said they could identify Arakan Army members by their uniforms and pattern of activities in remote border areas. According to sources, two horses of Arakan Army were killed in the gunfire. The 13 horses seized were handed over to the local police station. A BGB source said they will inquire into the matter of the horses seized from the possession of Arakan Army. A senior army officer said that a section of local tribals may have links with the Myanmarese separatists, the source added. A foreign ministry official said they are monitoring the situation. We are also in touch with the Bangladeshi mission in Myanmar, he added. When contacted, BGB sector commander of Bandarban region Col Waliur Rahman refused to comment on the combing operation.