The soldiers who fled to Bangladesh in the wake of a civil war in Myanmar will be sent back by ship within a day or two, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said today (13 February).
“Our foreign minister has communicated with the authorities in Myanmar asking them to take their troops back. Myanmar has given its word that they would soon take the troops back by ship. Hopefully, they will be sent back within 1-2 days,” said the minister.
He said this in response to a question from reporters after the speech of the chief guest at the opening ceremony of the Highway Police's 'Service Week-2024' at Bangladesh Police Auditorium of Rajarbagh Police Lines.
The minister said, “There is a war going on across Myanmar. Their forces are fighting along the Bangladesh border with the Arakan Army. The war has become so intense that the members of Myanmar's border guard police along with government officials, some armed and some unarmed, have entered the country. Some army personnel might have entered the country too to save their lives.”
The home minister said none of the intruders had entered the country for war.
He said the BGB took the weapons away from the troops and kept them safe. Those who needed medical care were treated in different hospitals.
In response to the question of what should be done if Rohingyas enter again during the ongoing war, the minister said, “We have clearly said that there are already 1.2 million Rohingyas in our country. So we will not allow anyone to settle here, no matter if Rohingya or whoever comes."
No one else will be allowed to enter here in the future,” he added.
In response to the question if anyone who was involved in the genocide has also entered our country, he said, "We do not have any such list. But we saw miles of burning lands, corpses floating in the river. Their army was stationed during the massacre, and we saw them there. But I don't know if they did the massacre. It is being tried in the international court."
