Dhaka again summons Myanmar ambassador

Dhaka on Sunday again lodged a strong protest and summoned Myanmar ambassador to Bangladesh for Myanmar’s shells landing inside Bangladesh territory a day earlier.

A formal letter was handed over to Aung Kyaw Moe. In the last 15 days, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned the Myanmar ambassador three times. 

This time, Mia Mainul Kabir, director general of Myanmar section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, summoned the envoy.

In this regard, an official of the ministry told Bangla Tribune: "The ambassador was summoned this morning and a meeting was held for about an hour. He was informed of Bangladesh's displeasure over the incident.

The ambassador was summoned to the State Guest House Padma, he added.

On Saturday, Myanmar security forces orchestrated a series of fierce attacks from fighter planes and helicopters inside Bangladesh border in Bandarban.

Shells and gunshots were fired from warplanes and helicopters in the Ghumdhum area at around 9:20am.

In this regard, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said Bangladesh is following the situation in Myanmar following the second border violation by Myanmar security forces in a week.

“Violence is going on inside Myanmar. We have sealed the border. No matter how much Myanmar continues its provocation, we will not allow anyone to enter Bangladesh through the border,” he said.

Border Guard Bangladesh has been put on alert so that no one from Myanmar can enter Bangladesh territory, the foreign minister added.

Earlier on 20 and 28 August, mortar shells from Myanmar landed on the Bangladesh side of the border. 

Responding to this, the Myanmar ambassador was summoned by the ministry on 21 and 29 August to strongly protest the incidents.

On Saturday, at least four Myanmar fighter aircraft crossed into Bangladesh's air space over Naikhongchhari upazila in Bandarban.

Bandarban Superintendent of Police (SP) Tariqul Islam said that two shells fired from one of the Myanmar military aircraft landed some 120m inside Bangladesh near border pillar No 40.

On 28 August, two heavy mortar shells reportedly fired from Myanmar landed on the Bangladesh border in Tumbru of Bandarban causing severe panic among locals.