Mohammad Khorshed Helali, Cox’s Bazar: Amid ongoing clashes in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, 34 Myanmar citizens, including military and Border Guard Police (BGP) personnel who fled to Bangladesh for refuge, are being repatriated to their home country.
On Wednesday (May 7), a special Myanmar aircraft is facilitating the handover process from Cox’s Bazar Airport. These individuals have already been brought to the airport, where they are being boarded onto the Myanmar aircraft one by one.
Brigadier General M. M. Imrul Hasan, Commander of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Cox’s Bazar Zone, stated, “After the conflict began in Rakhine, 34 individuals entered Bangladesh through various border points and sought refuge. Among them are military and BGP personnel as well as a few civilians.”
Cox’s Bazar Airport Director, Md. Golam Mortuza Hossain, mentioned that a special aircraft from Myanmar is scheduled to land in Cox’s Bazar around 1:30 PM. “Since this airport is not regularly used for international flights, special arrangements have been made to complete immigration and other procedures. The aircraft is expected to depart at 2:45 PM,” he added.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Cox’s Bazar, Md. Shahedul Alam, said, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has directed the repatriation of these 34 individuals on behalf of the BGB. Administrative procedures are being carried out as per the instructions.”
Previously, on June 9, 2024, 134 BGP and military personnel were handed over to Myanmar’s navy from the BIWTA jetty at Nuniarchatta in the Bakkhali River, Cox’s Bazar. On April 25 last year, another 288 individuals were repatriated via sea. On February 15, during the first phase, 330 BGP and military personnel were sent back. Over three phases, a total of 752 personnel, all deployed in Rakhine State’s Maungdaw Township, were repatriated. Similarly, 214 Bangladeshi nationals detained in Myanmar returned home after completing their sentences.
Currently, approximately 80% of Rakhine State is under the control of the Arakan Army (AA), an armed group.
