Cox’s Bazar Correspondent:

Amid the ongoing conflict in Myanmar, 12 more members of Myanmar’s Border Guard Police (BGP) and military have sought refuge in Bangladesh today (16 April). A total of, 28 BGP and Myanmar Army took shelter in three days in Bangladesh.

On Monday afternoon, two army personnel entered through the Baishfari border of Naikhongchhari upazila of Bandarban. BGB has disarmed them and taken them into custody. Earlier on Sunday around 11:30 pm, Lieutenant Colonel Mohiuddin Ahmed, commander of the 2nd BGB battalion in Teknaf, said five BGP members entered through the Kharankkhali border of Hoikang in Teknaf.

An officer of Cox’s Bazar BGB said yesterday that a total of 16 people took refuge through the Teknaf and Baishfanri border in two days. 11 BGB have been taken into custody at their Naikhongchhari headquarters. 180 people who took shelter at different times were already staying there. In total, there are now 196 people in Bangladesh. Out of which five army personnel and 191 BGP members. The official said that discussions are going on through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to send them back to Myanmar, and the asylum seekers may be sent back next week.

However, this number increased as 12 more members of the Myanmar Army and BGP took refuge in Bangladesh. Before this, 330 people had fled Bangladesh in stages in a few months. They were sent back to Myanmar by water last February 15.