BNP questions foreign minister’s ‘silence’ on Myanmar’s detention of BGB soldier

The BNP has labelled the incident of BGB soldier being detained by Myanmar border forces as a ‘diplomatic failure’ of Bangladesh government.

At a media briefing on Monday, the party’s spokesperson Asaduzzaman Ripon demanded an explanation from Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and also came down hard on the chief of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).
 
Referring to the incident, the BNP leader criticised Ali for his earlier statements over the meeting between Khaleda Zia and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
 
“The foreign minister had then, all on a sudden, said that there were no chances of a meeting between Khaleda Zia and Narendra Modi. But the meeting did take place. Why is he now mum over the matter of bringing back Razzak,” said Ripon, the BNP’s international affairs secretary. 
 
The foreign minister, however, had denied in Parliament that he had dismissed possibilities of a Khaleda-Modi meeting.
 
On Jun 17, Bangladesh and Myanmar border patrols exchanged fire on the Naf River at Cox’s Bazar’s Teknaf. 
 
A BGB soldier was shot in the incident while another, Nayek ‘Razzak’ was abducted by Myanmar’s Border Guard Police (BGP).  
 
Dhaka summoned the Myanmar envoy the next day and asked him for action to secure the release of the abducted BGB soldier as soon as possible.
 
The BGB has called its Myanmar counterpart for a flag meeting, but it is yet to happen. 

The Myanmar border police are awaiting clearance from their foreign ministry.
 
Demanding an explanation from the foreign minister, BNP leader Ripon said on Monday, 
“He should make it clear whether there have been any talks with the Myanmar foreign minister.  What is the update and why the flag meeting (between border forces) has not taken place.
 
“He should step down if he fails on diplomatic manoeuvring.”

The party also came down hard on the BGB chief. 
 
“BGB DG Major General Abdul Aziz makes statements like political leaders every now and then. We seek an explanation on Razzak from him.”
 
“He must tell the public first what measures he has taken.”