The Burmese Border Guard Police (BGP) handed over 32 Bangladeshi released prisoners to the Bangladeshi Border Guard (BGB) in Maungdaw, Burma following a meeting between representatives of the two agencies on 30th September.
According to BGB sources seven BGB officers, led by Major Mohammed Nazamu Shadat Shumon of Teknaf Battalion No. 42 met in Maungdaw with 13 BGP officers, led by a Burmese immigration officer from Maungdaw.
According to the source various border issues were discussed at the meeting including yaba smuggling and Bangladeshi prisoners who have served their sentences but remain in jail in Burma.
After the meeting the BGP handed over the released Bangladeshi prisoners to the BGB.
Most of the released prisoners handed over were sailors and fishermen from Teknaf and other areas in the district of Cox’s Bazar.
One of the released prisoners, Hossain Ahamed of Nayapara said border police arrested him on the Naf River whilst he was fishing in Bangladeshi territorial waters.
He also said that there were many Bangladeshi woodcutters, boatpeople and fishermen being held in the Burmese jail.
