Pact with Myanmar soon to stop trans-border crimes

Bangladesh is going to sign a Border Liaison Office (BLO) Agreement with Myanmar soon to stop trans-border crimes and build confidence between the border forces of the two countries.
The Border Guard Police (BGP) of Myanmar sent a draft to the Director General (DG) of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) recently, seeking approval, sources in the home ministry and the BGB said. The BGB headquarters has sent it to the home ministry and sought permission to sign the agreement between the authorities of the two border forces.
The Director General of the BGB, Maj Gen Aziz Ahmed, told The Independent that the BLO agreement is a good proposal and the date of signing will be fixed after getting the home ministry's consent.
“The Myanmar authorities have signed such an agreement with China, Thailand and Laos to stop cross-border terrorism and build confidence among border forces of the countries,” he said.
The BGB chief, a senior Major General of the Bangladesh Army working in the border force on deputation, said the recent incident between the BGB and BGP at the border point of Teaknaf would not have occurred had the BLO agreement been signed earlier.
“It will be possible to conduct joint patrolling by the border forces in their respective territories at a time to stop border crimes after the proposed agreement is signed,” he said.
“The BGB and BGP will cooperate in nine categories as per the proposed agreement. They include stopping trans-border crimes, arms and drugs smuggling, money laundering, human trafficking, piracy and building confidence between the border forces,” he said.
“Separate task forces will be formed by the BGB and BGP, headed by its sector commanders, in their respective border points. They will meet regularly to discuss and resolve problems,” he added.
Maj Gen Aziz Ahmed said both forces will share information on cross-border terrorism and also take measures for building confidence between the forces.
BGB sources said the government is planning to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the coastal force of Myanmar to stop human trafficking through waterways.
State minister for home affairs, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, told this correspondent that they are scrutinising the draft agreement after which they will give permission for signing it.
“We want better cooperation with the border force of the neighbouring country to stop cross-border terrorism,   smuggling and human trafficking,” he said.
At present the border forces of the two countries were guarding the border under the Bangladesh-Myanmar Border Agreement, 1980. There are cases when BGP men violate rules and attack BGB man.
On June 17, BGB trooper Biplob Kumar was shot, and Nayek Razzaq was abducted and his sub-machine gun taken away by BGP men in the Naf river near Jadimura on the Teknaf border in Cox’s Bazar. After nine days, the BGP handed over Nayek Razzak to the BGB at a flag meeting.
On May 30, 2014, the BGP killed BGB Nayek Mizanur Rahman in the Nikhangchhari border area of Bandarbans. There is a 271-km border with Myanmar, most of it porous. This allows insurgent groups of Myanmar to carry out various crimes, including smuggling of drugs and arms to collect funds.

It is reported that there are at least 37 yaba factories, run by extremist and militia groups, in different states of Myanmar.

 

Pact with Myanmar soon to stop trans-border crimes

Bangladesh is going to sign a Border Liaison Office (BLO) Agreement with Myanmar soon to stop trans-border crimes and build confidence between the border forces of the two countries. The Border Guard Police (BGP) of Myanmar sent a draft to the Director General (DG) of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) recently, seeking approval, sources in the home ministry and the BGB said. The BGB headquarters has sent it to the home ministry and sought permission to sign the agreement between the authorities of the two border forces. The Director General of the BGB, Maj Gen Aziz Ahmed, told The Independent that the BLO agreement is a good proposal and the date of signing will be fixed after getting the home ministrys consent. The Myanmar authorities have signed such an agreement with China, Thailand and Laos to stop cross-border terrorism and build confidence among border forces of the countries, he said. The BGB chief, a senior Major General of the Bangladesh Army working in the border force on deputation, said the recent incident between the BGB and BGP at the border point of Teaknaf would not have occurred had the BLO agreement been signed earlier. It will be possible to conduct joint patrolling by the border forces in their respective territories at a time to stop border crimes after the proposed agreement is signed, he said. The BGB and BGP will cooperate in nine categories as per the proposed agreement. They include stopping trans-border crimes, arms and drugs smuggling, money laundering, human trafficking, piracy and building confidence between the border forces, he said. Separate task forces will be formed by the BGB and BGP, headed by its sector commanders, in their respective border points. They will meet regularly to discuss and resolve problems, he added. Maj Gen Aziz Ahmed said both forces will share information on cross-border terrorism and also take measures for building confidence between the forces. BGB sources said the government is planning to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the coastal force of Myanmar to stop human trafficking through waterways. State minister for home affairs, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, told this correspondent that they are scrutinising the draft agreement after which they will give permission for signing it. We want better cooperation with the border force of the neighbouring country to stop cross-border terrorism, smuggling and human trafficking, he said. At present the border forces of the two countries were guarding the border under the Bangladesh-Myanmar Border Agreement, 1980. There are cases when BGP men violate rules and attack BGB man. On June 17, BGB trooper Biplob Kumar was shot, and Nayek Razzaq was abducted and his sub-machine gun taken away by BGP men in the Naf river near Jadimura on the Teknaf border in Coxs Bazar. After nine days, the BGP handed over Nayek Razzak to the BGB at a flag meeting. On May 30, 2014, the BGP killed BGB Nayek Mizanur Rahman in the Nikhangchhari border area of Bandarbans. There is a 271-km border with Myanmar, most of it porous. This allows insurgent groups of Myanmar to carry out various crimes, including smuggling of drugs and arms to collect funds. It is reported that there are at least 37 yaba factories, run by extremist and militia groups, in different states of Myanmar.