Five additional members of Myanmar's Border Guard Police (BGP) have sought refuge in Bangladesh, adding to the escalating tensions in the region. The BGP officers crossed into Bangladesh through the Kharangkhali and Jhimongkhali border areas in Teknaf.

Confirming the incident, the Commanding Officer of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Battalion-2 disclosed that the BGP members were disarmed upon entry and subsequently taken into custody. This latest influx comes just a day after nine BGP members made a similar entry through the same borders on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Myanmar's Rakhine state has witnessed heightened conflict between the junta government forces and the Arakan Army, an armed group, since the beginning of Eid. Residents of Cox's Bazar's Teknaf, situated along the Myanmar border, remain on edge amid the ongoing exchange of mortar shells and explosions emanating from across the border.

In a related development, around 179 members of Myanmar's BGP had previously fled to Bangladesh on March 11 via the Naikhongchhari's Jamchhari border. Presently, they are under the care of the Naikhongchhari BGB battalion, awaiting repatriation to Myanmar as part of an ongoing process.

The conflict between the Arakan Army and Myanmar's border guard force initially erupted in Naikhongchhari on February 2, leading to a mass exodus of refugees into Bangladesh. Since February 4, approximately 7,330 individuals have fled to Bangladesh from Myanmar, including BGP members, army personnel, immigration officials, and civilians. While some were repatriated on February 15, tensions persist along the border, underscoring the precarious situation faced by both nations.

BOB Post