Bangladesh Repatriates 40 Myanmar Nationals Amid Conflict

Bangladesh on Wednesday repatriated 40 Myanmar nationals—including 34 military and Border Guard Police (BGP) personnel—who had crossed into Bangladesh amid ongoing clashes between Myanmar's military and the rebel Arakan Army.

The group was handed over to Myanmar authorities in the morning via a special flight from Cox’s Bazar airport. They had earlier been transported from the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) camp in Naikhyangchhari.

According to officials, the group included 12 soldiers and 22 BGP members who had fled Myanmar’s Rakhine state after losing ground to Arakan Army forces. They had entered Bangladesh through the Naikhyangchhari border in Bandarban and were subsequently detained by BGB.

Cox’s Bazar Additional District Magistrate Md Shahidul Alam confirmed that the return was carried out following directives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Necessary immigration procedures were completed before their repatriation.

Present during the handover were BGB Cox’s Bazar Region Commander Brigadier General M M Imrul Hasan, NSI Additional Director Md Jalal Uddin, ADC Md Shahidul Alam, Additional SP (Traffic) Md Jasim Uddin Chowdhury, Jail Superintendent Md Zayed Mehedi, and Foreign Ministry Assistant Secretary Md Nazmul Hasan Majumder.

This was the latest phase in Bangladesh’s efforts to return Myanmar nationals who fled across the border during the conflict. Previously, 752 individuals—including soldiers, BGP personnel, and civilians—had been sent back in three phases.

In return, Myanmar authorities also handed over 214 Bangladeshi nationals previously detained in their jails.