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Border Tensions Eased as Bangladesh Facilitates Repatriation of Myanmar Individuals
Bangladesh has successfully repatriated 330 individuals, including members of Myanmar’s army and Border Guard Police (BGP), who entered Bangladesh amid internal conflict at the border. The transfer was facilitated by Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) with strict security measures, involving buses and naval transport. The repatriation process took place at the Inani Jetty in Cox’s Bazar, with the individuals transported to a waiting Myanmar Navy ship at the border. The group comprised 302 BGP members, four family members of BGP personnel, two army members, 18 immigration officials, and four civilians.
A delegation from Myanmar’s BGP, led by Police Colonel Myo Thura Naung, arrived at the Bangladesh border on a Bangladesh Coast Guard ship to oversee the repatriation. Myanmar Ambassador U Aung Kyaw Moe and other officials were present during the process. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal announced Myanmar’s agreement to take back their security force members on February 13, indicating a peaceful resolution to the situation.
The conflict in Rakhine state involving rebel factions has triggered clashes with Myanmar’s military junta, resulting in ongoing hostilities marked by gunfire, shelling, and rocket explosions. The conflict primarily revolves around control of a border camp, and there are reports of insurgent groups challenging the government army in different parts of Myanmar. The situation has raised concerns about casualties and the potential for escalation.
On February 5, two people were killed inside the Bangladesh border due to mortar shells reportedly fired from Myanmar, prompting heightened tensions. Bangladesh’s border with Myanmar spans 271.0 kilometers, and the recent unrest adds complexity to the region. In a separate incident on February 9, BGB personnel arrested 23 Rohingyas attempting to enter Bangladesh, seizing firearms and ammunition. The current crisis, however, appears unrelated to the Rohingya refugee situation that prompted Bangladesh’s significant role in providing shelter in 2017.
Leaders of the quota reform movement have resolutely refused to negotiate with the government, insisting that their movement will persist until their demands are met.
In a Facebook post, Hasnat Abdullah, a coordinator of the movement, declared, “No discussion through stepping onto blood.”
Asif Mahmud, another prominent leader, echoed this sentiment, stating, “There can be no dialogue with bullets. I would prefer death over this betrayal.”
He further elaborated, “On one side, there are bullets. On the other, there is a call for dialogue. We can’t sit for dialogue while stepping onto the blood of our brothers.”
Earlier, leaders of the quota reform movement accused the government of escalating the law and order situation towards violence, asserting that their movement was peaceful until the government’s intervention.
Vowing to continue their struggle, Asif Mahmud stated, “We will continue our protests till we achieve our demands for reformation of the quota system, reopening of the halls and campuses, making university campuses terror-free, withdrawing political forces from the campuses, and punishing the killers and attackers.”
He added, “The people of the country have encircled those who tried to corner us. No conspiracy will be able to derail our movement.”
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today urged both local and international investors to invest in the extraction of marine resources from Bangladesh’s extensive sea areas.
“In order to fortify the blue economy through the diverse utilization of our marine resources, I call upon local and foreign investors to seize the opportunity to invest in Bangladesh. This will enable us to harness more of our marine resources,” she announced.
The Prime Minister made these remarks during the inauguration of the Bangladesh International Aquaculture and Seafood Show-2024 at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in Dhaka.
She emphasized the importance of adhering to proper standards in the collection, distribution, and processing of fish to boost exports, aiming to make fish the country’s second-largest source of foreign currency.
Sheikh Hasina pointed out that her government has made limited progress in harvesting fish and other sea resources from the deep sea due to a lack of interest from local investors.
“Therefore, we need foreign investment to advance in this area. This is the reality we must face,” she noted.
She also suggested that both local and foreign investors can collaborate in joint ventures or invest separately in this sector to achieve better results.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecasted light to moderate and moderately heavy rainfall or thundershowers, accompanied by temporary gusty winds, across all eight divisions of the country over the next 24 hours, starting from 9 am today.
In its weather bulletin issued this morning, the BMD stated, “Light to moderate rain or thundershowers with temporary gusty wind is expected in a few places over Rangpur, Mymensingh, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions. Additionally, one or two places in Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna, and Barisal divisions may experience similar conditions, with moderately heavy falls anticipated at several locations in Rangpur, Mymensingh, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions.”
The bulletin also highlighted that the current mild heat wave sweeping across the Rangpur division and the districts of Tangail, Chuadanga, Rajshahi, Pabna, Bogra, and Netrokona may persist.
Daytime temperatures are expected to rise slightly, while nighttime temperatures are likely to remain nearly unchanged throughout the country.
On Wednesday, the highest recorded temperature was 36.7 degrees Celsius, observed in Rajshahi, Rangpur, and Rajarhat. The lowest temperature recorded today was 26.0 degrees Celsius, noted in Bandarban and Teknaf.
Over the last 24 hours, rainfall amounted to 16 mm in Bandarban.
For the capital, the sun will set at 6:48 pm today and rise at 5:21 am tomorrow.
