Paletwa: Over 200 Burmese Army soldiers from two battalions assembled near the triangle border area of India, Burma, and Bangladesh last week to construct a fence, said a local monk.

"Over 200 soldiers belonging to Burmese Army battalions LIB 289 and 355 arrived in Lan Pan Wa Village near the border to erect fences in the area. Now they are staying along the Min Chaung Creek, which is located in the triangle area," the monk said.

Some highly placed army officials and the local authorities of Paletwa Township have come along with the troops. They are to instruct and inspect the fencing project.

"I do not know the name of the military operation bureau chief, but I know Paletwa Township Chairman U Kyaw Zay Ya is also in the group of officials," the monk said.

The Burmese authorities have been preparing to erect barbed wire fencing along the border with Bangladesh, and the soldiers are believed to be in the area to implement the project.

The Burmese Army has also started to erect a barbed wire fence along the bank of the Naff River in southern Maungdaw Township.

A government official in Maungdaw confirmed that the project to erect the fence has been started in Myin Lwat Village in southern Maungdaw Township.

In some places in northern Maungdaw, many riot police personnel from Buthidaung and Maungdaw riot regiments are now constructing embankments where the barbed wire will be erected.

According to local sources, many army and police personnel have been deployed in villages along the border for the fencing project.

Burma reportedly intends to fence its border with Bangladesh to prevent human trafficking and smuggling along the border.