Myanmar to return BGB trooper Razzak if Bangladesh takes in 555 trafficking victims without screening

The Myanmar border police has agreed to return Nayek Abdur Razzak on one condition, the Border Guard Bangladesh says.

The condition is that Bangladesh will have to take in 555 human trafficking victims rescued by the Myanmar Navy from the Andaman Sea. 
 
Although, the reclusive southeast Asian country claims they are Bangladeshis, the Bangladesh government is unwilling to take in anyone without verifying their identities first. 

Even after verification, Rohingyas, or Muslims from the Rakhine state who are being persecuted in Myanmar, were found in the last group of trafficking victims brought in last week. 
 
Razzak was abducted following what the Bangladesh government says was a shooting in the Naf River at Cox’s Bazar’s Teknaf on Jun 17 between border patrols. 
 
A BGB soldier was shot in the incident caused by a “misunderstanding”, while Nayek ‘Razzak’ was abducted by Myanmar’s Border Guard Police (BGP).  
 
The BGB on Monday confirmed the Myanmar condition for sending back Razzak abducted after the shooting on June 17, that left another member of the border force wounded from gunfire.

The foreign ministry summoned the Myanmar’s envoy in Dhaka the next day and asked him for action to secure the release of the abducted BGB soldier without delay.

State Minister for Home Assaduzzaman Khan Kamal told journalists they were trying to negotiate his return through BGB-BGP flag meetings.

BGB Teknaf Battalion’s Commander Lt Col Abu Jar Al Jahid told bdnews24.com they had three meetings with the BGP who agreed to conditionally return Razzak.

“Razzak and the rescued migrants are two completely different issues. Verifying whether they are Bangladeshis or how many are truly Bangladeshi is a long process.

“We have asked for fast return of Razzak. And we told them we will inform them about resolution of the migrant return issue after verification and scrutiny.”

No information on the condition of Razzak could be known but two photographs uploaded on the BGP’s Facebook page showed him bloodied and handcuffed.

Razzak’s family in Natore are worried about his state after seeing the photographs. His wife gave birth to their third child on Monday.

The government has also come under fire for not being ‘able to ensure’ his speedy return.