Number of Myanmar border guards taking shelter in Bangladesh shoots up to 179

Amidst the conflict over the control of the border in Myanmar's Rakhine State, 179 armed members of the Border Guard Police (BGP), Myanmar's equivalent of the BGB, took refuge in Bangladesh with their lives at stake on Monday, UNB reports.

Early in the morning, they arrived in Pillar-46, and in the evening, they moved to Pillar-45 in the Jamchhari village. These BGP members are being accommodated in a government primary school in Naikhongchhari Sadar, confirmed Bandarban Deputy Commissioner Mujahid Uddin.

Initially, 29 BJP members have been accommodated in a primary school. Later, the remaining 150 individuals were also placed in the same location. However, to avoid any educational disruption, the DC has directed the Naikhongchhari UNO not to use any place that could affect the students' learning environment.

He said 29 BGP members took shelter in Bangladesh from Myanmar Border Security Force's Ongthapaya camp through the border area of Jamchhari BOP under Naikhongchhari BGB 11 Battalion. The BGB has taken them into custody with their weapons.

Md Shariful Islam, public relations officer of BGB headquarters, reassured journalists that first, 29 members and later, 150 more entered Bangladesh. BGB has taken measures to safeguard them, he added.