BGB-BGP flag meeting ends with Myanmar officially regretting border incidents

Myanmar officially expressed regret after Bangladesh on Sunday strongly protested its security forces flying helicopters over the Bangladesh-Myanmar border areas, firing small arms and heavy weapons along the border causing loss of life and property.

The protest was raised by the head of the Bangladesh delegation during a flag meeting between members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Myanmar's Border Guard Police (BGP) held at Teknaf in Cox's Bazar, on Sunday.

Lt Col Khalid Mohammad Iftekhar, commanding officer of BGB-2 Battalion, led an 8-member Bangladesh delegation while Police Lieutenant Colonel Ye Wai Soe, Commanding Officer of No (1) Border Guard Police Branch, led the 7-member Myanmar delegation at the flag meeting, said Shariful Islam, public relations officer of the BGB headquarters in the evening.

During the flag meeting, the Bangladesh side also called upon the BGP to maintain a peaceful stand along the international border and also to keep a watchful eye so that no shell intrudes Bangladesh in the future stemming from internal conflicts in Myanmar, the BGB PRO said at the flag meeting.

Besides, as a neighboring border guard force, the BGB hopes that the ongoing internal crisis in Myanmar will be resolved soon and the ongoing border situation will be resolved quickly. The BGB always expects the BGP to play a responsible role in border management and maintaining stability at the border, he said.

In this regard, the BGP Battalion Commander officially expressed regret for the recent incidents. During the flag meeting, the leaders of both countries expressed their determination to work together to ensure the security of the people along the border and to maintain peace and order along the border.

Besides the situation arising in the border area of Bangladesh-Myanmar, there was a productive discussion about the illegal entry of Myanmar citizens and the prevention of drug trafficking in the flag meeting. Emphasis is placed on taking necessary steps in the future to create an environment of mutual communication, trust and confidence between the border guarding forces of the two friendly states.

Finally, the flag meeting ended in a very peaceful and cordial atmosphere with mutual farewell greetings and the BGP delegation returned to Myanmar.