Myanmar Mobilises Troops Along Border: Dhaka Keeps Mum On Barbed-Wire Fencing / Border Fencing By Myanmar Upsets Bangladesh

Myanmar Mobilises Troops Along Border: Dhaka Keeps Mum On Barbed-Wire Fencing / Border Fencing By Myanmar Upsets Bangladesh

(NSI News Source Info) March 21, 2009: The government of Myanmar is learnt to have mobilized troops along the Mongdoo - Teknaf border before its move for barbed-fencing in the border belt, according to sources in the border.

The border security guards of Myanmar - Nasaka - has already started accumulating construction materials in the border line reportedly with the view to restrict trespassing and smuggling in the border by intensifying security patrol and barbed-fencing.

A Bangladesh boy, left, watches Border Security Force soldiers prepare for a patrol near the Bay of Bengal in Taknaf, a popular launching point for dangerous journeys by illegal immigrants, about 246 kilometers (154 miles), southwest of capital Dhaka, Bangladesh. Thousands of impoverished Bangladeshis and Rohingyas, members of a stateless, Muslim ethnic group that fled Myanmar to escape persecution, leave Bangladesh aboard rickety boats each year in hopes of finding work elsewhere. The well-traveled route to Thailand through Malaysia has recently sparked international inquiries after Thai authorities allegedly detained and beat hundreds of the migrants before abandoning them in the Indian Ocean in boats with no engines and only a few bags of rice.

The barbed-fencing move from Akiyab to Ghumdhum was taken by the Myanmar government against the backdrop of the security situation in Teknaf border after a mutiny at Bangladesh Riles (BDR) headquarters in Dhaka.

Acting Commander of the 42- Rifles Battalion in Teknaf admitted that the Nasaka took up the border fencing project keeping them in the dark. The BDR official also claimed that the authorities concerned had duly been notified about the fencing move of the Myanmar government and the subsequent troop mobilisation.

It is also learnt that troop mobilisation was in progress at the Myanmar side zero points of Teknaf, Ukhiya and Naikhangchari. On the other hand, the BDR also strengthened patrol in the border belt and was keenly watching the events taking place in the area. The fencing move and sudden mobilisation of troops in the border belt have reportedly sparked tense among the residents of the border areas in Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Local traders said that the move would certainly put negative impact on the trade and commerce that had been in progress over the last couple of years. Movement of freight through Teknaf land port has declined over the last couple of days. Myanmar nationals entered Bangladesh complying with the provisions of the immigration also confirmed about the troop mobilisation in the border areas.

UNB adds: Foreign Minister Dipu Moni preferred to keep mum on the reported barbed-wire fencing along Bangladesh border by Myanmar with the backing of its troops.

"I don't like to give any opinion…We'll firm up our stance considering the situation," she told reporters yesterday at the Foreign Ministry when her comments were sought on the reported border fencing and mobilisation of troops by Myanmar.

Asked whether the Government is concerned over the situation along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, she said if any situation of concern takes place along the country's frontier, "we will be concerned".

FBI Agrees To Assist Bangladesh In Inquiry / Bangladesh To Rename BDR / Police Arrest ‘Ringleader’ Of Bangladesh Mutiny

FBI Agrees To Assist Bangladesh In Inquiry / Bangladesh To Rename BDR / Police Arrest ‘Ringleader’ Of Bangladesh Mutiny

(NSI News Source Info) Dhaka - March 5, 2009: The US Federal Bureau of Investigation has "agreed to help" Bangladesh in carrying out forensic investigations into the Bangladesh Rifles troopers’ mutiny, a media report said.

Acting deputy state department spokesman Gordon Duguid told a press briefing in Washington that he believed that the FBI would agree to help Bangladesh in investigating the BDR revolt, the Daily Star reported on Wednesday. Mr Duguid said that they have received a request from Bangladesh for FBI help in forensic investigation into the mutiny. "I believe the FBI has agreed to do that," the report quoted Mr Duguid as saying. Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina had sought help from the FBI to look into the uprising.

Additional Info/ Related News

Bangladesh To Rename BDR

To wash away the stigma of Bangladesh Rifles mutiny, Bangladesh will rename and reorganise its paramilitary force. The mutiny by the rifles killed most of its officers.

Director of Indian Border Security Force (BSF) Ashish Kumar Mitra (2nd R) inspects a Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) guard of honour at the BDR headquarters in Dhaka October 25, 2007. Five-day long bilateral talks between India and Bangladesh began on Thursday on border issues.

“The government in principle has decided to rename Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) as soon as possible,” Army’s Chief of General Staff of Army Sinha Ibne Jamali told reporters on Monday, Mar 2 night at the army headquarters.

The Bangladesh Rifles was earlier know as Eastern Rifles. It is a 215-year old force set up during the British rule to guard the countries eastern frontiers. Decision is yet to be taken on what would be the new name.

Former President and army chief General HM Erashad earlier demanded the dismantling of the BDR in line with military practices of abolishing units after mutinies.However, the country’s top brass want to continue with the force with the strength of over 40,000, but with a new name and a fresh orientation.

Additional Info/ Related News

Police Arrest ‘Ringleader’ Of Bangladesh Mutiny

Bangladeshi police said they arrested the suspected ringleader of a deadly insurrection by border guards, an attack the prime minister cited as proof of ‘a conspiracy” against her fledgling government. The army meanwhile continued to search for more than 1,000 border guards who fled after last week’s mutiny at their headquarters in Dhaka in which the guards ambushed their commanding officers, leaving at least 69 people dead. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who came to power two months ago, has suggested the border guards had outside help in plotting their uprising, although she has not specified from whom. She told supporters Tuesday night that the attack proved there was ‘a conspiracy” against her. ‘We must remain alert so no one can take away the rights of the people,” Hasina said. Parallel military and civilian investigations were launched Tuesday to determine the details of and reasons for the two-day mutiny that began Feb. 25. The alleged ringleader, Syed Tauhidul Alam, was arrested in a Dhaka slum Tuesday along with four other border guards, all of whom have been charged with murder and arson, according to A.K. Azad, a spokesman for the elite police unit that carried out the raid. Two soldiers (2nd L and 3rd R) of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), who were held as hostages by mutinous soldiers, walk with locals after they were released by their captors from the BDR headquarters in Dhaka February 26, 2009. Mutinous members of the Bangladesh paramilitary unit have completed laying down their weapons at their headquarters in the capital Dhaka after an uprising that began on Wednesday, a government official said on Thursday. Police paraded the suspects before reporters Tuesday night but the guards were not allowed to speak. Television footage showed them, dressed in sarongs and dirty shirts, slumped and limping before the cameras. Alam wore a signboard around his neck with his name spelled out. There was confusion over when and how Alam was arrested. Hasina said Sunday that Alam had surrendered and was in custody. Police insisted he was arrested Tuesday; Hasina’s office declined to comment. One of the suspects, Naik Firoz Ahmed, shouted, ‘Sir, I have surrendered,” before a police official silenced him, according to the United News of Bangladesh agency. The guards say they revolted over long-standing demands for parity in pay and other perks enjoyed by army officers, who command the border forces. During the mutiny, Alam emerged as the lead negotiator with Hasina’s office, winning an offer of amnesty in exchange for surrendering. Hasina later rescinded the offer for those directly responsible for the killings, which included Alam, police said. At least 54 army officers and wives were among the 69 people killed, and six army officers were still missing, authorities said. The insurrection and its aftermath have created a rift between the impoverished country’s civilian and military leadership. The powerful military, which has backed 21 coups in the country’s 38-year history and relinquished power to an elected government only two months ago, is furious over how Hasina handled the crisis, maintaining she should have ordered an immediate army assault to end the mutiny instead of negotiating and offering amnesty. Military investigators interrogated hundreds of border guards and searched ransacked offices and bloodstained sewers at the guards’ compound on Tuesday, according to a panel member who declined to be identified because he was not authorized to speak to the media. Military leaders also forced the government to appoint more senior army officials to the parallel civilian probe, another concession won from Hasina’s rattled government. The government said senior army officials occupied five of the civilian investigation panel’s 11 seats. Hasina and the military share a long, bitter history. A 1975 military rebellion killed her father, Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, along with most of their family. Political analysts said the mutiny threatened to damage relations further and shifted the balance of power toward the military.

Bangladesh Seeks FBI Assistance In BDR Mutiny Investigation

Bangladesh Seeks FBI Assistance In BDR Mutiny Investigation

(NSI News Source Info) DHAKA - March 1, 2009: Bangladesh Sunday sought assistance from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Intelligence (FBI) to investigate the mutiny by soldiers of paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) on Wednesday. Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) soldiers wait to report for duties in front of the BDR headquarters in Dhaka March 1, 2009. BDR soldiers who were absent from duty following the mutiny were given 24 hours to rejoin BDR at their respective headquarters or face lawful actions against them, according to the home ministry on Saturday. Hasina sought the assistance when U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Richard Boucher telephoned her Sunday morning and offered assistance to the Bangladeshi government, according to a release of the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry. During the telephone conversation the prime minister observed that the BDR incident might be a part of conspiracy. She sought FBI assistance in the investigation to dig out real culprits and bring them to book. Earlier, U.S. embassy said Boucher telephoned Sheikh Hasina on behalf of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to express continued support for the Bangladesh government and its people as they respond to the tragic aftermath of the BDR. The U.S. state department official reiterated the United States' willingness to render all possible assistance to the Bangladeshi government. Thousands of BDR soldiers staged revolted against their army officers on Wednesday leaving 64 army officers dead and 71 still missing. The revolt came to an end on Thursday evening after a series of negotiations between the mutinous soldiers and government officials.

DTN News: Bangladesh Mobilizes Warships Over Gas Tensions

DTN News: Bangladesh Mobilizes Warships Over Gas Tensions (NSI News Source Info) DHAKA, Bangladesh - November 3, 2008: Bangladesh mobilized three warships and said it would take "all possible measures" to protect its territory Nov. 3 after accusing neighboring Myanmar of encroaching on its seawaters to hunt for gas. Bangladesh will also send a high-level delegation to Myanmar to "defuse" tensions between the two countries, according to a statement issued by the foreign ministry. The Bangladesh Navy originally under Bangladesh Forces was created during the Bangladesh War of Independence in 1971 against Pakistan. Its official creation was established in July 1971 during the historic Bangladesh Sector Commanders Conference 1971. In 1971, with West Pakistan imposing a military rule in East Pakistan, the Bangladesh War of Independence also known as Bangladesh Liberation War was truly underway. Many Bengali sailors and officers in the Pakistan Navy defected to form the Bangladesh Navy. On 9 November 1971, the first naval fleet consisting of six small ships was inaugurated. Initially, there were two ships and 45 navy personnel. These ships tried to carry out raids on the Pakistani fleet and later were mistakenly hit and sunk by Indian fighter planes on December 10, 1971. A major attack was launched on Mongla seaport. According to official figures from Bangladesh Navy, a total of 334 sailors were involved with the newly created navy with 22 being killed. These sailors were mostly Pakistan Navy trained divers who were absorbed into regular navy after the war ended.* Bangladesh's foreign minister Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said he had warned Myanmar's envoy to Dhaka that "all steps would be taken to protect the sovereignty and territory of Bangladesh." The Bangladesh Navy warships took up position near disputed waters in the Bay of Bengal to face off with the Myanmar exploration fleet, top navy officials told an AFP correspondent in southeastern port city of Chittagong. "Myanmar navy deployed four civil ships with survey team and equipment of a Korean exploration company at the front side at the disputed waters backed by its two warships from behind," an official said. "We are observing the situation and have urged Myanmar navy to pull back their ships in a bid to ease tension," said a navy official. "We are on high alert." On Nov. 2, Bangladesh summoned Myanmar's envoy to hand over a "strong protest note" over the reported intrusion of vessels to look for oil. The area in question has not been demarcated and both countries claim it as their own. The Myanmar embassy in Dhaka said it had no official comment. Myanmar has discovered huge reserves of natural gas in the Bay of Bengal and has expressed its intention to carry out further exploration in a stretch of the sea also claimed by Bangladesh. The two countries have held a series of meetings in the past year aimed at resolving the disputes over the maritime boundary, including a meeting last month in Dhaka of senior ministers from both countries. Early this year Bangladesh divided its sea territory into 28 blocks and auctioned off the area to international oil companies as part of its efforts to end chronic gas shortages in the once gas-rich country. Myanmar immediately protested the move. Meanwhile, Bangladesh's border security forces said that four Bangladeshi woodcutters were killed after trespassing into Myanmar. Colonel Naim of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) told AFP the woodcutters' mutilated bodies had been found late Nov. 2 by relatives two kilometers (1.2 miles) inside Myanmar at the foot of a hilly pass. The two countries share a 90-kilometre unfenced border along hilly and porous terrain. "We don't know whether they were killed by the Myanmar border forces or local people from Myanmar, but it appears that the four bodies had been tossed over a hill about 1,000 feet (300 meters) high," said Naim, who uses only one name. He said the bodies were badly disfigured and officials in Bangladesh would be contacting border forces in Myanmar as part of their investigation into the killings. "We have never had such deaths along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border before," he said.