Taungbro, Bangladesh: The BDR and Nasaka had a commander level flag meeting on the Dekbonia on April 23, discussing about 300 workers to build the embankment without consultation with Bangladesh government where BDR had protested not to erect any embankment within the zero point on April 21, according to BDR officials.
From Bangladesh, a group of BDR (Bangladesh Rifles) officers led by Lt Col Shakawat Hossain, the commander of 17 Battalion of Cox’s Bazar, accompany by Palongkhali and Gundum commander officers, while Major Myint Shwe, the commander officer of Burma border security force (Nasaka) section number 3 and other army officers, the official said.
The BDR and Nasaka had a company commander level flag meeting on the Dekbonia Nasaka outpost issue, on April 21 at about 10.30 am, with the BDR requesting the Nasaka not to erect any embankment, within the zero point, according to BDR officials.
On April 21, a flag meeting was also held for protesting the erecting earth embankment in Burma side within 80 yards of the zero point with a group of BDR (Bangladesh Rifles) officers, led by Gundum Company Commander, Subedar Bashar, accompanied by the border out post commander of Palong Khali and five Nasaka officers led by Major Myint Shwe.
During the meeting, the Nasaka did not admit that they had been fencing on the Burma- Bangladesh border, within 80 yards of zero line. For instance, in Burma at the opposite side of Palong Khali BOP near pillar No.20 of Bangladesh, the Burmese authority erected barbed wire fencing within 80 yards of zero line, 17 Rifles Battalion Officer, Major Mohamed Tanim, said on April 21.
Burma said that they had erected the fence 150 yards away from zero line. If any one erected the fence within 150 yards, it would be stopped. They also asked the BDR officers to hold a flag meeting, with high level officers of two countries, according to official sources.
Ten days earlier, Burmese army personnel were deployed near the Burma-Bangladesh border for fencing. They erected a fence within 50 yards of zero line. But, following a protest from BDR, they stopped the work. However, they are erecting the fence very cautiously and slowly to avoid any conflict. They are using new tactics, for fencing in a bid to create conflict between Rakhine and Rohingya communities, a local person from the border area said.
The BDR had taken positions at the bank of the Naff River as Burma again started erecting an earth embankment within 80 yards of the zero point. BDR officials claimed that the Burmese army had stopped their work, while they blew whistles and showed red flags.
However, the local people said that the Burmese army had not stopped their work. A few days back, they built around 300 feet of the embankment.
In border areas, Rohingya people have been spending their days and nights panic-stricken. The BDR asked the local people to help them to bar Rohingya people entering Bangladesh.
On April 19, in the morning, a meeting was held regarding the Rohingyas’ crossing the Burma-Bangladesh border, at 17 Battalion Office in Cox’s Bazaar, inviting the local Chairman, especially in the border areas’ Upazila Chairmen and other BDR officers. In the meeting, Lt Col Shakawat Hossain, the commander of 17 Battalion of Cox’s Bazar asked the local Upazila chairmen to help BDR to curb the Rohingya people, from entering Bangladesh, according to official sources.
On April 22, the erecting earth embankment on the Burma side (Balukhali) was stopped for the clash between Rohingya villagers and army personnel where three army personnel were seriously injured and some rohingya were arrested on this connection. The Rohingya are forcing to work on the site as force labor and after clash the authority held the fencing program, said a local from Balukhali.
