Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)-Bangladesh has strongly protested Friday’s unprovoked eruption of gunfire from the Myanmar border force along the Bangladesh-Myanmar international border.

The Bangladesh government took the stringent step calling upon H E Myo Myint Than, the Ambassador of Myanmar to Bangladesh, to explain his country’s stance in this regard, said a press release of foreign ministry.

Tension has been brewing up along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border since Wednesday night when Myanmar’s Border Guard Police (BGP) reportedly opened fire at BGB patrol teams at a Rohingya refugee camp near the border at Naikkhangchhari in Bandarban.

After the incident, a BGB trooper was reported missing.

BGB officials said that Myanmar’s Border Guard Police had been silent about the matter.

Later the issue was taken to the foreign ministry.

The ministry summoned Myanmar’s ambassador in Dhaka to protest, after which BGP said they had a dead body.

The BGB director general said BGP had not named the dead person.

In the backdrop of the situation, Bangladesh foreign ministry again called the ambassador of Myanmar to Bangladesh to protest the killing and sought return of the body of missing BGB member.

In a note which was handed over to the Myanmar envoy, Secretary (bilateral) Ambassador Mustafa Kamal sought body of the missing BGB nayek Mizanur Rahman.  

During the meeting, Bangladesh side asked the ambassador to stop the firing by Myanmar border forces and take immediate measures.

Bangladesh side also demanded a thorough investigation into the unprovoked recurrence of gunfire on May 30 and for abstaining from the same in future.

The Myanmar ambassador assured that the matter would be duly conveyed to the concerned authorities in Myanmar immediately, added the press statement.

In this context the Myanmar ambassador was told that a BGB team was waiting near border pillar no. 52 for identification of the dead body which was proposed by the Myanmar side.

However, to the complete surprise of the BGB, Myanmar border forces suddenly started firing on the waiting BGB team without any provocation.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to closely monitor the situation.

While referring to the reported deployment of Myanmar military forces alongside the Bangladesh-Myanmar international border, which is a violation of the Boundary Agreement of 1980, Bangladesh side urged upon Myanmar for immediate and complete withdrawal of the Myanmar military, if deployed.

It may be added that Bangladesh Embassy in Myanmar has also lodged a strong protest with the Myanmar Foreign Ministry yesterday demanding an immediate investigation into the matter and requested the Myanmar government not to allow any action that may affect the friendly bilateral relations that exist between the two neighboring countries.

The Myanmar ambassador was also told that despite the recent border incidences Bangladesh government in the spirit of good neighborly relations has strongly encouraged the visit of the DG, BGB and his delegation to Myanmar from 9-14 June 2014, which would be a good opportunity to discuss all related issues at length in order to ensure peace and stability in the bordering areas between the two friendly countries.

The Myanmar ambassador was further reminded that Bangladesh was looking forward to the forthcoming Foreign Office Consultations in Dhaka scheduled for June 18, 2014.

BBN/SS/AD-31May14-3:00pm (BST)