17 more Myanmar army, BGP seek shelter in Bandarban

Another 17 Myanmar army men and Border Guard Police personnel have taken shelter in Bangladesh amid fighting with rebels.

They crossed the border through three points in Bandarbans Naikhongchhari Upazila on Tuesday, taking the number of such members of Myanmar security forces in three days to 213.   
Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) spokesman Md Shariful Islam said 15 personnel of the Myanmar Army and BGP crossed the border through Jomchhari and two others via Ghumdhum in the morning.

They were disarmed and taken to 11 BGB Battalion in Naikhongcchari. With the new arrivals, 213 members of Myanmar military and border guards are sheltering in the BGB camp. As many as 180 of them crossed the border in March.

Previously, 330 security personnel from Myanmar had fled across the border to Bangladesh amid fighting between rebel insurgent groups and the military junta forces for the past few months. They were eventually sent back to Myanmar on February 15. The rebels have managed to capture several areas and occupy check-posts.

People living in Bangladeshs border areas have felt the impact of the ongoing conflict. Several Bangladeshis have been killed in shelling from Myanmar, landmine or grenade blasts. Many have also been shot and injured.

SA