18 Sep

U Aung Myint, Director-General of the Strategic Studies and Training Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs called in Mr Manjurul Karim Khan Chowdhury, Ambassador of Bangladesh to Myanmar, at 1330 hrs. on 17 September 2020 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Yangon.

During the meeting, the Director-General clarified on-ground situation about recent movements of Myanmar security forces near the Myanmar-Bangladesh border, in response to the points raised by the Bangladeshi side in its Aide Memoire at the meeting between Ambassador of Myanmar to Bangladesh and Director-General of Myanmar Wing from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh on 13 September 2020.

The Director-General explained that the recent movements of Myanmar security forces near the Myanmar-Bangladesh border cited by Bangladesh was only a regular change of duty of police personnel accompanied by their family members. He also stated that such movements were carried out in the territory of Myanmar and it is part of the regular duties undertaken to ensure the prevalence of rule of law and security, and to safeguard the livelihood of all local communities in Rakhine State. The Director-General also assured that the movements and activities of the Myanmar security personnel were intended neither to intimidate nor to pose a threat to Bangladesh.

Furthermore, the Director-General recalled that the Border Liaison Office of Myanmar was established in Maungtaw on 15 October 2018 in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding between Myanmar and Bangladesh on the Establishment of Border Liaison Offices (BLOs) signed on 24 October 2017. Although Myanmar proposed three times to hold BLO meeting with Bangladesh but the first two proposals were not responded. With regard to the third, the Bangladeshi side replied that it would not be convenient because of COVID-19. The Director-General reiterated that Myanmar stands ready to hold meetings with Bangladesh to discuss border-related security matters through the existing BLO mechanism. Then, the Director-General handed over an aide memoire to the Bangladeshi Ambassador.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Nay Pyi Taw