Dhaka working to repatriate Myanmar security personnel: FM

Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Tuesday said Dhaka is maintaining communication with Myanmar authorities to send back the fresh 177 Myanmar security personnel who took shelter in Bangladesh amid the ongoing ethnic conflict in the neighbouring country.

“Yesterday, 177 (Myanmar) border guards entered here. Some civilians also entered but they were pushed back… like the previous occasion, this time we are discussing with Myanmar to repatriate their security personnel,” he told the reporters at the foreign ministry in Dhaka.  

The security personnel from Myanmar Border Guard Police (BGP) crossed the border near Naikhyangchari in Bandarban on Monday and sought shelter in Bangladesh amid their ongoing conflict with the ethnic rebel group Arakan Army.

Replying to a query, the foreign minister said that Dhaka is in touch with Myanmar authorities and if required, the Myanmar Ambassador to Bangladesh will be summoned.

Earlier, Malaysian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Haznah Md Hashim made a courtesy call on the foreign minister at his office. 

Regarding his meeting with the Malaysian envoy, the minister said they discussed various issues related to bilateral matters while laying emphasis on increasing trade and commerce relations.

“We discussed how Malaysia can increase investment at the special economic zones in Bangladesh,” he said.

Mahmud said they also discussed various issues related to the labour market in Malaysia as well as the welfare of the expatriate Bangladeshi workers currently residing in the South East Asian country.