Bandarban, Bangladesh: During the last six months, Bandarban Hill District security forces in Bangladesh seized 15 arms along with ammunition from remote areas of the district and destroyed about 20 acres of poppy fields, according to BDR officials.

The destroyed poppy plots were in Sangu reserved areas under the Ruma, Alikadam and Thanchi security zone of Bandarban Hill District of Bangladesh near the Burma border.

At least 27 secret places were raided. During the raids firearms were recovered and poppy was destroyed, said Army Regional Headquarters officials on July 29.

Extracting opium gums from the poppy plants at other plantation sites

The poppy fields were prepared during the cleaning of lands for cultivation by Mru hill tribes and other local people on the outskirts of the forest. The Mru and local people were supported by the insurgent group, the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), said an aide of the BDR on condition of anonymity.

Every year, the security forces of Bangladesh such as the army and Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) destroy poppy fields in Chittagong Hill Tracts near the Burma border, said a local businessman from Bandarban.