Arakan Army Trio Detained During Illegal Border Crossing

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have apprehended three members of the Arakan Army (AA), a prominent ethnic armed organisation from Myanmar, as they attempted to infiltrate Bangladeshi territory through the volatile Naikhongchhari border in Bandarban. The arrests took place on Monday evening, 23 February, in the Amtali border area within Ward No. 8 of the Ghumdum Union.

Operation and Identification

According to official reports, a BGB patrol unit from the Cox’s Bazar Battalion (34 BGB) intercepted the trio as they crossed the international boundary under the cover of dusk. Upon being challenged and subsequently interrogated by the border guards, the individuals confessed to being active members of the Arakan Army. During the search, BGB personnel recovered a significant quantity of Myanmar Kyat (currency) from their possession.

The detainees were later handed over to the Naikhongchhari Police Station for formal processing and the initiation of legal proceedings. The Superintendent of Police and local administrative officials have confirmed that the men are currently being held under custody while their backgrounds and motives for crossing are thoroughly investigated.

Official Statements

Lieutenant Colonel S.M. Khairul Alam, Commander of the 34 BGB, underscored the vigilance of the frontier forces. "We intercepted these three individuals during an illegal entry attempt via the Ghumdum border. In accordance with standard operating procedures, they have been transferred to the relevant police authorities," he stated.

Abdul Baten Mridha, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Naikhongchhari Police Station, added that the suspects had self-identified as insurgents. "The legal process is underway. We are looking into whether their presence in Bangladesh was merely for refuge or part of a more clandestine operation," he remarked.

Regional Security Context

The Naikhongchhari frontier remains a high-security zone due to the ongoing conflict between the Myanmar military and various insurgent groups across the border in Rakhine State. Mazharul Islam Chowdhury, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Naikhongchhari, noted that patrolling and surveillance have been heightened across all sensitive points to prevent both insurgent infiltration and the smuggling of illicit narcotics.

This latest incident highlights the porous nature of the border and the continuous pressure faced by Bangladeshi security forces as they navigate the spillover effects of the civil unrest in neighbouring Myanmar.