Myanmar deploys more troops near BD border

Myanmar has deployed additional forces near the bordering areas of Bangladesh on Friday, a day ahead of the first anniversary of Myanmar military crackdown on Rohingyas, according to Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).
"Yes, Myanmar has deployed heavily armed additional forces in the bordering areas and near the Rohingya camps at no man's land. They said they have deployed additional forces there as part of regular patrol to ensure internal security. However, they told us that Bangladesh is 'not the target'," BGB Battalion Commander Lt Col Manjurul Hasan told the Daily Observer on Saturday over telephone.
Meanwhile, Thousands of Rohingya refugees staged protests for "justice" on Saturday, (August 25), marking the first anniversary of a Myanmar military crackdown that forced them to flee to camps in Bangladesh. They observed the Day as "Rohingya Genocide Remembrance Day" at different camps at Cox's Bazar.
Around 17,000 Rohingyas have      been living at no man's land, including nearly 7,000 at Tambru, since Myanmar launched a military operation which international community dubbed "ethnic cleansing" in the Rakhine State on August 25 last year.
It triggers panic not only among Rohingyas, but also among the Bangladeshis in the frontier area. In March 2018, Myanmar deployed a huge contingent of its army near Bangladesh border on the same ground.
Monjurul sat with his counterpart of BGP at Tambru border and enquired about the situation. Considering the situation, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel have been put on alert.
"Bangladesh's embassy at Naypyidaw has sent a letter of "concern" to the foreign ministry of Myanmar in this connection. They assured us that the activity is not against Bangladesh, they just increased their security," he said.
"However, the Myanmar authority requests us to exchange information about the presence and existence of terrorists in both countries on security ground," the BGB official said.
The repatriation of the Rohingyas remains elusive even nine months after the signing of an agreement between Bangladesh and Myanmar although Dhaka-Naypyidaw agreement said that the repatriation must begin in January 2018.
Unfortunately, not a single one was repatriated but around 12,000 more Rohingyas entered Bangladesh in the current fiscal year.
Anti-Rohingya pogrammes have been a part of life in the region for years, and violence against them began ratcheting up again in October 2016, as the Myanmar government started complaining about violence by Rohingya militants. In late August 2017, an influx of Rohingya refugees into Bangladesh became an unstoppable flood.
Myanmar government claimed that on August 25, 2017, ARSA people attacked 30 police outpost in Mongdu, Buthidung and rathedung areas, which led the army crack down there. On Friday, Myanmar government deployed police at 160 police outposts there as they have intelligence report that ARSA is planning to launch attacks in the bordering areas of Myanmar and has organized regular campaign against Myanmar.
According to the UNHCR, about 11.19 lakh registered Rohingyas are living in 12 camps under Ukhiya and Teknaf upazilas of Cox's Bazar district.