Bangladesh Myanmar: Bangladesh Is Gathering Troops on Border, Myanmar Alleges

Recently, the military authorities of Myanmar have complained that Bangladeshi troops are gathering on the border of Myanmar. A report in the country's English-language newspaper, The Irrawaddy, said on Monday.

Bangladesh made the same complaint two weeks ago.

Now, Bangladeshi officials have denied the allegations made by Myanmar about the gathering of Bangladeshi troops.

What has been alleged?

A report published in The Irrawaddy on Monday said Myanmar's army spokesman, Major General J Min Tun, had complained that the country's security forces had recently stepped up patrols at the border "without disrupting bilateral military relations".

"But now Bangladesh is gathering troops on the border," complained Major General J. Min Toon.

Citing several anonymous sources in the country's security forces, the report said that since September 25, Bangladesh's 10th Division has seen an increase in the number of troops.

It has also been alleged that Bangladesh is stockpiling weapons, including 155mm rocket launchers, shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles and anti-aircraft machine guns.

"Security has been beefed up in the border areas due to the recent increase in the activities of the Arakan Army and Arsa in Buthidong and Maungdaw," Maj. Gen. J. Min Toon told an online press conference on Saturday.

Now, with regard to Bangladesh's objections and allegations, a Myanmar military spokesman is skeptical, saying "Bangladesh has a 'hidden agenda' or secret agenda."

Bangladeshi officials over Myanmar's allegations

None of the Foreign Ministry and Border Guard BGB officials acknowledged to the BBC that troops were being deployed at the border. Officials have claimed the allegations are untrue.

Foreign Ministry officials said that two weeks ago, Myanmar's ambassador to Dhaka, Aung Kyu Moe, was summoned to express concern over the increased movement of Myanmar troops on the border and an official letter was sent.

In response, Bangladesh's ambassador to Myanmar was summoned by the country's authorities, who said the exercise was not "threatening or intimidating".

But the authorities have not yet given any statement to cast doubt on the activities of Bangladesh.

A photo published with the Myanmar news shows a team of Bangladeshi border guards trying to set up a rocket launcher on the Myanmar border.

BGB officials said the photo was taken during a BGB training session, and taken long ago.

Has the number of troops in Bangladesh really been increased?

BBC Bangla has spoken to many people, including local people, journalists and local people's representatives from bordering Teknaf and Bandarban.

They told the BBC that BGB patrols had been stepped up in the border areas of Myanmar since the army noticed more patrols than usual.

Patrols have also been arranged in all places where there are no patrol posts.

But the BBC could not verify the veracity of this statement from any neutral source.

The locals also said that the allegation of arms smuggling was not true.

 Source: BBC Bangla

*The writer is a Broadcast Journalist at BBC