Joint forces begin operation to flush out Myanmar insurgents in Bandarban

A joint-operation of Border Guard Bangladesh and armed forces began on Wednesday afternoon to flush out the Myanmar insurgents from Bangladesh territory at Bara Modak of Thanchi in Bandarban.
As part of the operation, troops has been mobilised there and air force fighters began flying over the area at lower altitude and the insurgents began to flee, a top ranking BGB officer told New Age.
Earlier, BGB intensified vigilance and deployment at Bangladesh-Myanmar boder at Bara Modak of Thanchi in Bandarban after a group of Myanmanr insurgents carried out separate attacks on a BGB patrol team and on its camp at Bara Modak that left Naik Zakir injured. Zakir was air lifted to Chittagong for better treatment.
The BGB also requested Myanmar army through the defence attaché at its embassy in Dhaka to seal off the border. BGB director general Major General Aziz Ahmed told New Age that the Myanmar diplomat had assured the BGB of doing it accordingly.
A BGB release said a group of Myanmar separatists had attacked a patrol team BGB at Bara Modak at around 9:30am forcing them to retaliate. ‘A BGB naik sustained injuries in the attack. Additional BGB and army members have been sent to the area by helicopter to rescue the injured soldier and conduct coordinated attack,’ the release said.
A senior BGB official told New Age that after the fire exchange, BGB intensified vigilance and deployment in the area. Besides army troops equipped with helicopter gunships were also deployed there.
The officer said though it was spread that the insurgents belong to Arakan Army but they were yet to be confirm about the identities of the insurgents. He also said no casualty was reported yet.
Omar Ali, officer-in-charge of Thanchi police, said exchange of fire is still continuing sporadic at the bordering area at Bara Modak. He said he came to know BGB members were facing off a Myanmarese separatist group Arakan Liberation Army.
Another BGB officer stationed in Thanchi told New Age that the Myanmar separatists carried out separate attacks on a patrol team and a BGB camp at Bara Modak almost simultaneously around 9:30am. He said BGB would evacuate people from the area for safety grounds.
The OC said he was informed at a BGB soldier Naik zakir suffered injuries in his hand during the gunfight.
Earlier, two Myanmar army men were rescued from the area on July 14 and they were handed over to Myanmar on July 17.

 

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net