264 troops from Myanmar so far take shelter

Bangladesh has summoned the Myanmar envoy following increased violence along the border, resulting in two fatalities and the arrival of over 200 Burmese military and paramilitary troops, report agencies.

Cox's Bazar and Bandarban district administrations are taking steps to evacuate risky border areas.

Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, the new director general of Border Guard Bangladesh, reported that 264 Myanmar forces, including Border Guard Police (BGP) and army personnel, so far sought shelter in Bangladesh.

Until Monday night, 115 Myanmar forces had taken shelter in Bangladesh and 114 security personnel arrived till Tuesday morning while 35 more entered in the afternoon, he said.

The situation was under control, with efforts focused on addressing it humanely while maintaining international relations, he said.

Two people including a Bangladeshi woman were killed following an explosion of a mortar shell on Monday, he said, adding, "Such deaths can't be acceptable."

Besides, 65 Rohingyas, who tried to enter the country by boats, were sent back, he said.

"No more Rohingya will be allowed," said the BGB chief.

The ongoing conflict in Myanmar's Rakhine state between the military and the Arakan Army has led to an influx of people crossing the border into Bangladesh.

Amid the escalating situation, Bangladesh's foreign ministry summoned on Tuesday Myanmar's ambassador to protest the deaths caused by a mortar shell on Monday.

Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud emphasized the unacceptability of the incidents and conveyed a strong note of protest.

Hasan Mahmud said the Rohingya repatriation issue would be discussed with India during his first bilateral visit to New Delhi apart from discussion on overall bilateral issues.

Myanmar is a neighbouring country for both Bangladesh and India.

Talking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the minister said Bangladesh had been seeking India's support regarding the Rohingya repatriation. "So, overall this issue will be discussed," he said.

With regard to the regional situation, Modi expressed appreciation of the burden shouldered by Bangladesh in hosting over a million persons displaced from the Rakhine State in Myanmar, and conveyed India's constructive and positive approach to support solutions towards safe and sustainable repatriation of the refugees.

Since the Foreign Minister will have a meeting with India's National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, the current security situation in Myanmar is likely to be discussed in the context of regional issues, said a diplomatic source.

The foreign minister is scheduled to hold a meeting with his Indian counterpart Dr S Jaishanka today (Wednesday).

The foreign minister is likely to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will have a separate meeting with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal during his stay in New Delhi.

Asked about BNP's comment that the Myanmar BGP members were entering Bangladesh and the conflicts were spilling into Bangladesh territory due to the government's "lenient foreign policy," Hasan said BNP leaders were "speaking the language of the insane."

The conflict in Myanmar, particularly in Rakhine state, has intensified, involving various rebel groups, leading to heightened tensions in the border region with Bangladesh.