Tensions heightened for the third day on Saturday along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border as the neighbouring country deployed more army and Border Guard Police (BGP) members on the day.
But Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said on Saturday Myanmar removed its heavy weapons from the Tambru border in Bandarban following a flag meeting held on Friday.
Our Correspondent in Cox's Bazar reports, tensions brewed for the third day among the villagers and Rohingya people of Naikhongchhari area as Myanmar kept deploying more army and BGP members on Saturday.
According to sources on the border, Myanmar army had amassed a huge member of BGP at the Tumbru border point since Thursday morning. Tumbru is very close to Bangladesh.
Locals, Rohingya people and officials said that Myanmar reinforced additional armed border guards by trucks, pic-ups and motorcycles just opposite the Konar Para no-man's land after the flag meeting on Friday.
According to Naikhongchhari upazila administration sources and witnesses, at least four pic-up vans loaded with Myanmar army and BGP men arrived in Ghundum area on Saturday noon.
Witnesses and Rohingya people told reporters that the BGP men were threatening Rohingya people through miking to leave Konar Para no-man's land and throwing pieces of brick and stones at the sheltered Rohingyas.
Following this incident, Rohingyas thronged some points shouting out seeking to enter Bangladesh.
In response, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) authority increased patrol and remained on alert at the Tumbru border points, sources said.
When contacted, Upazila Nirbahi Officer(UNO) of Naikhongchhari Sarwar Kamal confirmed it. He said Myanmar reinforced an additional force of BGP on Saturday on Tumbru border. "But there is no tension on border, we are observing the situation with caution", he said.
The Foreign Ministry summoned the Myanmar Ambassador in Dhaka LwinOo over the deployment of troops and artillery and lodged its protest strongly.
In the wake of strong protest by Dhaka, Myanmar on Friday defended the deployment of troops and artillery saying that it was done for internal security.
UNB adds: Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said on Saturday Myanmar removed its heavy weapons from Tambru border in Bandarban.
The minister came up with the information replying to a query from reporters at a programme arranged by the Metropolitan Cooperative Society in the city's Farmgate area.
"During the flag meeting, the Myanmar authorities said they, upon receiving wrong information, deployed army and artillery along Tambru border in Naikkhongchhari of Bandarban," he said.
Members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Border Guard Police (BGP) of Myanmar would patrol their respective border areas in coordination from March 27, Asaduzzaman added.
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