Bangladesh briefs diplomats of Southeast Asian nations about Myanmar shelling on its border

The Bangladesh government has briefed the diplomats of the Southeast Asian nations posted in Dhaka regarding the border situation caused by the mortar shelling by the Myanmar army on its borders. Acting Foreign Secretary Rear Admiral (Rtd.) Md. Khorshed Alam, conveyed the deep concern of Bangladesh on the recent incidents of mortar shells falling and exploding inside Bangladesh territory from Myanmar. He also apprised the ASEAN envoys about the indiscriminate aerial firings, human fatalities and serious injuries, damage to the properties and livelihood of the people in the bordering areas with Myanmar.

The envoys assured Bangladesh that they have taken note of the issue and they will convey it to their respective government , said a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) of Bangladesh on Monday. 

Earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar summoned the Bangladesh Ambassador Manjurul Karim Khan Chowdhury on Monday to clarify about the ground situation regarding the firing incidents on the Myanmar-Bangladesh border.

The Director-General of the Strategic Studies and Training Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar U Zaw Phyo Win said that the Arakan Army (AA) and the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) attacked a Border Guard Police outpost of Myanmar with mortars on September 16 where three mortar shells landed inside Bangladesh territory. Again, in another attack by the AA and ARSA on Sept. 17, nine mortar shells landed inside the Bangladesh territory. The Director-General underscored the fact that the AA and terrorist group ARSA have been deliberately carrying out such attacks to create rift in the cordial bilateral relations between Myanmar and Bangladesh, said an official statement of the Myanmar government.

U Zaw Phyo assured Bangladesh that Myanmar will always cooperate with Bangladesh to maintain tranquillity of the border area.