On Monday, 179 Myanmar junta personnel fled across the border into Bangladesh amidst intense clashes with the ethnic Arakan Army in Rakhine State. Led by a group of 29 individuals, comprising both uniformed and civilian personnel, the exodus sought refuge in the hilly border district of Bandarban, as reported by officials from Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the Bandarban administration. “Our security forces are disarming them,” said Bandarban district deputy commissioner Shah Mujahid Uddin.

Dhaka is actively coordinating with the Myanmar mission in Bangladesh to facilitate the repatriation of the fleeing Myanmar junta personnel, according to a senior Bangladeshi official. Meanwhile, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) is collecting personal details of the troops to ascertain their ranks and affiliations. However, specific information regarding confiscated weapons and their shelter locations has not been disclosed. The troops, who had traveled from deep within Myanmar, became trapped in various locations amid clashes with the Arakan Army (AA). The AA has made significant gains in Rakhine and neighboring Chin State, seizing over 170 junta strongholds and nine towns since November 13th of the previous year.

Following a recent exodus of junta forces from Rakhine, which occurred within a month of the repatriation of 330 defeated junta troops and civilians by the Myanmar navy on February 15th, it was revealed that these troops had sought shelter in Bangladesh after fleeing fighting in Rakhine between February 4th and 10th. Upon their return to Myanmar, an agreement was made that the troops would not be punished for their flight from the battlefield. In response, BGB director-general Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui announced a cessation of further troop crossings from Rakhine State.

On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud stated that Dhaka is maintaining communication with Myanmar authorities to repatriate the 179 Myanmar security personnel currently sheltering in Bangladesh due to the ongoing ethnic conflict in Myanmar.

“Yesterday, 179 (Myanmar) border guards entered here. With them some civilians also entered but they were pushed back … like previous occasion, this time we are discussing with Myanmar to send back their security personnel,” he told the reporters at the foreign ministry here.

Myanmar Border Guard Police (BGP) personnel crossed into Bangladesh near Naikhyangchari in Bandarban, seeking refuge amidst ongoing conflicts with the Arakan Army. Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud confirmed Dhaka's communication with Myanmar authorities regarding the repatriation of these personnel, adding that the Myanmar Ambassador to Bangladesh could be summoned if necessary. Additionally, Malaysian High Commissioner Haznah Md Hashim met with the foreign minister to discuss bilateral matters, focusing on enhancing trade and investment, particularly in Bangladesh's special economic zones. Mahmud said they also discussed various issues related to the labor market in Malaysia as well as the welfare of expatriate Bangladeshi workers currently residing in the Southeast Asian country.

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