BGB, Myanmar cops agree to remove mines from border

-- Vow to follow 9-point resolution

-- BGB, MPF 6-day Dhaka conference ends

Bangladesh and Myanmar will jointly work to remove land mines from their respective border areas.

Both the countries agreed to take necessary steps in this regard in a bid to establish good border management, said a press release jointly issued by Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Myanmar Police Force (MPF) this morning.

The BGB and MPF agreed to do it for avoiding deaths and injuries due to the explosions of mines and IEDs (Improvised Explosive Device) buried on the border and its adjoining areas, it said.  

-- Not to allow terrorist to use land

-- Exchange info, conduct operation to stop drug smuggling

-- Vow to strictly follow the Naf river, border and land border agreements

-- Not to enter other's territory without permission

-- Extending support to stop trespassing

"We cannot go to some certain places inside Bangladesh border as mines and explosives are buried there," Brig Gen Md Anisur Rahman, ndc, BGB additional director general, told journalists during a press briefing at BGB headquarters.

Separatists groups and others might have buried the explosives in the areas and now, the BGB is trying to remove those with the consent of Myanmar authorities, Rahman said while replying to a quarry made by a journalist.     

Terming drug smuggling on the border a high priority issue, the BGB official said both the countries will exchange information in this regard so that no one can trespass.

BGB has given its Myanmar counterpart a list of spots in the border areas from where drugs are smuggled, he said.

Based on the information, both countries will conduct anti-drug smuggling operations on their respective sides, Rahman added.

The announcement was made on the last day of the conference held in Dhaka from April 1 to 6.

A six-member Bangladesh delegation was led by Brig Gen Anisur while Brig Gen Myo Swe Win, chief of police general staff of MPF, led Myanmar's six-member team in the conference.

A nine-point resolution, including commitment to strictly follow the Naf river, border and land border agreements, not to break rules and enter each other's territory without permission and extending support to stop trespassing,  has been drafted as the outcome of the border conference.

In addition, the both border security forces agreed to provide legal assistance to a citizen if he or she is detained on charge of trespassing.

Clearing their respective governments' stance, the two countries vowed not to allow any terrorist activities on their soil.     

The BGB and MPF agreed to hold the next border conference in Naypyidaw of Myanmar in November this year.