Chittagong, Bangladesh: Col. Md Bashirul Islam, Chittagong Sector Commander of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), accused Burma of running yaba factories along the Burma-Bangladesh border on March 31, at Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, during a meeting of border security officials from both countries, according to a BGB official.
“Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) officials demanded the immediate closure of yaba factories in its border areas to prevent smuggling of drugs into Bangladesh at the meeting with their Burmese counterparts, the Burma border security force (Nasaka),” the source said.
“There are three yaba factories in Burma that are very close to the Bangladesh border and yaba tablets are being smuggled from them into Bangladesh,” said Col Bashiru Islam.
“We are demanding the factories be shut down to prevent smuggling of yaba and alcohol.”
Col Md Bashirul Islam headed a 15-member delegation at the meeting while Col U Aung Gyi, Director of Nasaka Headquarters, led the 17-member team from Burma.
The BGB delegation also presented the Nasaka officials with statistics on yaba and other drugs seized during the last five months and a list of yaba factories in the Burmese territory near the Bangladesh border.
However, the Nasaka officials said they have no knowledge about the accusation and assured that they would investigate the matter and would inform the BGB about any action taken very soon.
“We will immediately take steps to stop the smuggling of drugs,” the Nasaka official said at the meeting.
Col Bashirul said at a press conference later the BGB had a successful discussion with Nasaka on different issues, including closing yaba factories, preventing drug smuggling, preventing illegal intrusion by Rohingya and exchange of people detained in jails of both countries.
