5 Myanmar army, BGP members detained in Bandarban’s Gumdhum

The Myanmar citizens crossed the border and sought shelter in a neighbourhood one and a half kilometres into Bangladesh, say police

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have detained five members of Myanmar’s military and Border Guard Police (BGP) after they crossed through the Gumdhum frontier in Bandarban, police have said.

The five had taken shelter in Gachhbonia Para, about 1.5km inside Bangladesh from Border Pillar 42 under Gumdhum, around Sunday noon, said Naikhongchhari Police chief Masrurul Haque.

The detainees are Ko Ko Sein, 35, a second inspector of the BGP; Soe Thura, 38, BGP members Aung San Htu, 25, Kyaw Zayar Lin, 32; and Min Min Oo, 41, a member of the junta military.

Repeated phone calls to Lt Col SM Khairul Alam, commanding officer of Cox’s Bazar BGB Battalion-34, went unanswered.

Naikhongchhari Upazila administrator (UNO) Mazharul Islam Chowdhury confirmed the incident.

“We are aware of the detention of Myanmar military and BGP members,” officer Masrurul Haque said. “But they have not been handed over to the police yet.”