BGB trades fire with Myanmar border force in Bandarban

Members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the Myanmar Border Guard Police exchanged fire for about two hours along Naikhonchhari border in Bandarban district Friday afternoon, reports UNB.

"The gun battle (between BGB and border force of Myanmar) took place from 2:15pm to 4pm at Panchhari," said the officer-in-charge of Naikhonchhari Police Station.

There was no casualty in the incident, he said, adding that the situation along the border remained calm after the incident.Tension along the border escalated after Nayek Mizanur Rahman of BGB went missing following an indiscriminate firing by the Myanmar Border Guard Police Tuesday morning.Earlier on Thursday, Bangladesh strongly protested the firing and detaining the BGB member by Myanmar Border Guard Police along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, and demanded his immediate release.

The Myanmar envoy in Dhaka, U Myo Myint Than, was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and handed over a note verbale conveying Dhaka's stance, said a Foreign Ministry media note.

The Myanmar envoy assured that the matter would duly be conveyed to the authorities concerned in Myanmar immediately and that he would get back to Bangladesh side as soon as he hears from them.

Bangladesh also demanded a thorough investigation into the incident to stop the recurrence of such incident in the future.

The Bangladesh Embassy in Myanmar also lodged a strong protest with the Myanmar Foreign Ministry demanding an immediate investigation into the matter and release of the captive BGB member.