In a dramatic development today, 13 members of Myanmar’s Border Guard Police (BGP) have fled across the Naf River to seek asylum in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar. The BGP personnel arrived in a boat early this morning from Mungdu Township in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, making their way to Bangladesh’s Nazirpara area in Teknaf’s Sabran Union. Upon arrival, they surrendered to the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).
Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Mahfuzuddin Ahmed, the commander of the BGB 2 Battalion in Teknaf, confirmed the surrender of the 13 BGP members. He reported that they have been disarmed and are currently in BGB custody.
Reports from the border indicate that the Arakan Army (AA), an armed insurgent group, has been engaged in intense clashes with Myanmar’s government forces in Rakhine State for over five months. The Arakan Army has taken control of significant portions of Rakhine State, including 20 BGP border posts, as well as several police stations and outposts in Rathedaung-Bu Chidong Townships. Recently, the Arakan Army has been trying to seize Mungdu Town and surrounding villages, leading BGP members to flee to Teknaf.
Since July, 123 BGP members have sought refuge in Teknaf. They are being housed in a multi-story building near the BGB camp in Dhamdhamia, Teknaf, with the Naf River separating them from Myanmar.
In addition, between February and June, 752 BGP and military personnel had previously fled to Bangladesh, and were repatriated to Myanmar in three separate operations.
Sources indicate that explosions from mortars and grenades have been heard intermittently in Mungdu Township, causing alarm among residents of Teknaf and nearby areas. The loud blasts have been felt in several villages within Teknaf’s municipality and surrounding unions.
Teknaf Municipality Panel Mayor Mujibur Rahman reported that, in addition to recent airstrikes, drone attacks have also occurred in Mungdu. The explosions have caused tremors in at least 23 villages in three unions, including Naytangpara, Chowdhuripara, and Jaliapara. Some Rohingya individuals have attempted to cross into Teknaf from Mungdu, while the BGB and Coast Guard have intensified patrols and surveillance to prevent illegal entries.
Tragically, several boats carrying Rohingya refugees capsized in the Naf River and Bay of Bengal over the past two days. The bodies of 44 individuals, including 19 women, 18 children, and 7 men, have been recovered from Bangladesh’s maritime border.
Teknaf Upazila Executive Officer Mohammad Adnan Chowdhury stated that measures to enhance border security have been strengthened, with increased patrols and vigilance along the Naf River and surrounding areas.
