Bangladesh in touch with Myanmar govt and Arakan Army
Bangladesh has been maintaining communication with both the Myanmar government as well as the rebel group Arakan Army, which has taken full control of the Myanmar side of the shared 271 kilometres border, Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said yesterday (30 December).
During a visit to the border area in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, Chowdhury assured reporters that the situation at the border is stable. 'All security forces, including the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), are diligently performing their duties to maintain law and order,' he said.
He added that Dr. Khalilur Rahman, the chief representative of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, is closely monitoring developments in the region.
The adviser noted that 50,000 to 60,000 Rohingyas have recently fled to Bangladesh due to ongoing conflict in Myanmar’s Rakhine State. He stated that their registration is pending and will require a decision from higher levels of government.
When asked about drug trafficking in Teknaf and surrounding areas, Chowdhury acknowledged the problem but expressed optimism about controlling the influx of narcotics. He urged all stakeholders along the border to cooperate by sharing intelligence.
Commenting on the potential reopening of fishing and cattle import activities in the Naf River, he said this would depend on improvements in Myanmar’s internal situation. 'Gunfire and mortar shelling occasionally reach our side of the border, making fishing unsafe. Decisions about reopening activities will be made once the situation stabilizes,' he explained.
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