DHAKA—Around 100 Myanmar Border Guards and soldiers crossed into Bangladesh on Thursday after being defeated by the Arakan Army in northern Rakhine State, according to Bangladeshi foreign ministry sources.
But they said many personnel have “returned” across the border.
The authorities in Teknaf said the armed junta personnel crossed the River Naf at three points and the Border Guard Bangladesh and Coast Guard took them into custody.
In June, the foreign ministry said more than 752 junta personnel and their families had been handed over since mid-February, despite the lack of an extradition treaty.
Officials in Teknaf told The Irrawaddy that the junta promised that none of them would face any intimidation or legal charges.
They said Dhaka had asked Naypyidaw repeatedly to take steps to prevent any further arrivals.
In February, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan announced a closed-border policy, which has since been breached numerous times.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh authorities in the last few weeks have prevented the arrival of Rohingya civilians fleeing violence in Rakhine.
Thomas Andrews, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Myanmar’s human rights, on May 10 wrote to the Bangladesh authorities about reported allegations of civilians being pushed back at the border.
He also raised concerns about the repatriation of
Rohingya refugees to Myanmar and the deteriorating situation inside the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar.
Andrews called for the Bangladeshi government to investigate the allegations on the border and allow access to humanitarian relief.
