It has been five days since a BGB Nayek was abducted by the Myanmar border forces -- the BGP. He has not been returned till going to press. The BGB patrol was within its territory and it was the Myanmar BGP patrol that had intruded inside Bangladesh territory and in course of the melee not only shot and injured another BGB soldier but carried the BGB Nayek with them. This is the second incident in just over a year where the BGB has sustained casualties as a result of firing by the Myanmar border guards. 

The circumstances of the abduction of the BGB soldier, as well as the handling of the issue by Myanmar, leave a lot of questions in our mind. The response of the Myanmar authorities is surprising. 

We wonder why border security personnel should be subjected to the treatment that Nayek Razzaque has been. Even if were to grant the fact that the incident might have been caused by some misunderstanding, five days is enough to remove that. Why should it take so long for a flag meeting to take place and there should be no significant development so far? The foot dragging by the Myanmar authorities does not demonstrate a good neighbourly attitude. Its reaction to the BGB request for a flag meeting as well as the government's request through its ambassador in Dhaka to return the abducted BGB soldier has been at best lackadaisical. 

Border management is a trying and difficult job. But that can be made more manageable through a spirit of cooperation and understanding which appears to be absent on the other side.