Bangladesh has beefed up security measures along its border with Myanmar as fighting rebel group Arakan Army on Sunday captured the remaining base of the Border Guard Police in the Rakhaine state.
Authorities concerned said that the latest development in Myanmar would further worsen the risk of a fresh Rohingya influx in Bangladesh.聽聽聽聽聽
On Sunday, Arakan Army, which one of the most powerful ethnic minority armed groups battling the Myanmar army, claimed the capture of the last outpost of the country鈥檚 border force in the strategic western town of Maungdaw, gaining full control of the 271-kilometre (168-mile) -long border with Bangladesh, United News of Bangladesh reported.
Officials of the local administration and law enforcement agencies told 抖阴精品 on Tuesday that they were on high alert along the land border and the River Naf to check trespassing, influx in particular, of Myanmar citizens.
Refugee Relief and Repatriation commissioner Mohammed Mizanur Rahman stationed in Cox鈥檚 Bazar said that the Arakan Army had already shifted a huge number of Rohingyas from Buthidaung locality of Arakan to Maungdaw.
鈥榃e have heard that around 2,00,000 Rohingyas have assembled along the Myanmar side of the border. They are struggling with food shortages. So there is potential risks of an influx in Bangladesh,鈥� Mizanur said.
The RRR commissioner has also requested law enforcement agencies to step up their surveillance along the border area.
Major Syed Istiaque Murshed, acting commanding officer at Teknaf Battalion聽 (2 BGB) under the Border Guard Bangladesh鈥檚 Ramu Sector, said on Tuesday evening that the Arakan Army took over the whole land area across the Naf River.
鈥榃e are on alert and doing our best to stop Rohingya influx and illegal drug trafficking,鈥� Istiaque told 抖阴精品 in a written message, adding that the BGB personnel were carrying out 鈥榙omination patrol鈥� over the Naf River on Sunday night.
The Border Guard Bangladesh conducted boat patrols from Border Reference Marker (BRM)-6 to BRM-10, covering vulnerable spots along the Naf River and asserting control over islands within Bangladesh鈥檚 territorial waters, said a press release issued by the force on Monday.
The Bangladesh Coast Guard also joined hands to intensify the border security. The force鈥檚 East Zone media officer Lieutenant Shakil told 抖阴精品 on Tuesday that the Coast Guard鈥檚 two outposts on the River Naf increased patrols to stop trespassers through the waterway.
鈥楢dditionally, we have sharpened our surveillance and intelligence,鈥� Shakil said.
As part of beefing up border security, the Teknaf upazila administration imposed a temporary ban on all kinds of transportation through the Naf River from Sunday afternoon for an indefinite period.聽 The ban also covered fishing in the Bangladesh part of the river, upazila nirbahi officer SK Ahsan Uddin said on Tuesday afternoon.
鈥楽ince Sunday evening, we have not heard the sounds of fire shots and bombing which became usual for the past one month,鈥� Ahsan said.
On Monday, the Associated Press quoted Khaing Thukha, a spokesperson for the Arakan Army, saying that the Arakan Army seized the last remaining military outpost in Maungdaw on Sunday.
An unverified press release of the Arakan Army also declared an indefinite ban on all transport of people and goods in the Myanmar side of the Naf River from Sunday afternoon.
The release said that the members of the 鈥榝ascist鈥� Myanmar military junta along with their allies, including armed groups Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, Rohingya Solidarity Organisation, Arakan Rohingya Army, were trying to flee through the Naf River.
鈥楾herefore, due to military necessities and public security concerns, all river transportation in the Naf River (Rakhine side) will be indefinitely suspended starting from 3:30pm on December 8, 2024,鈥� the unverified release said.
