Maungdaw, Burma: A battalion commander-level flag meeting between Burma and Bangladesh was held in Taungbro left camp, border town of Taungbro under Maungdaw Township, Arakan State on November 27 at about 9 am.

The meeting especially discussed the contentious issue of Burma's oil and gas exploration in Bangladesh waters in the Bay of Bengal and subsequent deployment of troops along the Burma-Bangladesh border, according to sources.

Both sides also agreed to maintain peace and order on their respective borders and build congenial relations, the sources said.

At the meeting the acting Commander of 8 Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) Battalion in Cox's Bazar, Major Md Sajjadul Kabir led the Bangladesh team with three other officers and No. 3 Burma's border security force, or Nasaka Sector Commander, Major Soe Nyunt led the Burma team, the sources added.

Burma demanded deportation of smugglers with goods when caught and people with criminal cases who escape from Burma, sources added.

Battalion Operation Officer Major Md Tanim Hossain, who was present at the meeting, said they also discussed other issues such as trans-border crimes, release of Bangladeshis detained in Burmese jails, list of prisoners in Burmese jails and illegal intrusion.

But the meeting did not discuss laying of landmines on the border and withdrawing of troops from the camps from Burma-Bangladesh border which were deployed in the first week of November, 2008.

"Now the situation in the border areas is safe and peaceful. If both countries don't withdraw their troops it does not matter but we need troops from Bangladesh to stay on the border for our safety as Burmese troops always disturb us on the border," a local from Nykonchuri upazila of Bandarban District said.

However, both sides agreed to hold such meetings regularly in the future.