Bangladesh, Myanmar launch jt drive against Arakan rebels
BANDARBAN, Aug 31 (BSS): Bangladesh and Myanmar have launched a coordinated security clampdown against rebel Arakan Army, officials said today.
They said Myanmar troops launched a simultaneous drive on the borders as Bangladesh army joined hands with the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) against the Burmese separatist group who appeared to be operating from the frontiers of the two countries.
"The Myanmar force's has also launched the drive against the Arakan Army in their territories along the border while the Bangladesh army and BGB are carrying out the clampdown since Thursday," BGB's sector commander in Bandarban Colonel SM Waliur Rahman told a news briefing at his office.
He added that the Myanmar force's action came in line with a call of BGB chief Major General Aziz Ahmed after the Mynmar's rebel group attacked a camp of the Bangladeshi border guards on Wednesday, a day after BGB forces seized 15 Arabian horses belonged to the group.
Officials earlier said the so-called Arakan Army attacked BGB's Baramadak camp firing some 20 rocket launchers while the border guards immediately retaliated with identical weapons though no casualty was reported during the skirmish.
The incident prompted Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and senior army and security officials to visit the scene and order the army-BGB clampdown against the outfit.
Officials said the joint drive so far saw the arrest of four operatives of the outfit or their aides while the Bangladesh security forces continued to look for more members of the outlawed group.
"We have decided to continue our joint drive (army-BGB campaign) until September 6," the BGB sector commander said.
The others who visited the scene after the skirmish included Principal Staff Officer to the Prime Minister's office Lieutenant General Mainul Islam, BGB's director general Major General Aziz Ahmed, army's Chittagong area commander Major General Sharifur Rahman, BGB's Chittagong region commander Brigadier General Habibul Karim, army's Bandarban region commander Brigadier General Nakib Ahmed Chowdhury.
