Myanmar Envoy Gets Another Earful at MOFA; Tries to Blame Insurgents

Myanmar Ambassador to Bangladesh Aung Kyaw Moe on Sunday “acknowledged” the firing of multiple mortar shells into Bangladesh territory, but tried to deflect blame by asserting the insurgents they are engaged in fighting were firing heavy artillery and mortars, some of which landed inside Bangladesh territory.

Bangladesh urged Myanmar to refrain from activities that inflict damage to the lives and livelihoods of people, noting that the ongoing situation is creating an atmosphere of “fear” among the innocent people living in the bordering areas with Myanmar.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday summoned the Myanmar envoy for the fourth time since August and lodged a strong protest against the incidents of shelling from Myanmar.

The firing of shells from Myanmar caused human casualties, affecting the safety and security of the people and property inside Bangladesh territory and spreading panic among the residents of the bordering areas.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also handed over a protest note to the ambassador, MoFA said.

Ambassador Kyaw Moe was also reminded that the ongoing situation was detrimental to kickstarting the repatriation process of the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals, as the Rohingya refugees are referred to in official communications between the two countries, temporarily sheltered in Bangladesh on humanitarian grounds.

The envoy was told that the government of Myanmar was responsible for maintaining security inside Myanmar, as well as for respecting the sovereign territory and airspace of Bangladesh.

In this connection, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated the zero tolerance policy of the government of Bangladesh on terrorism and non-harboring of any elements hostile to the security of the countries in the region._UNB