The Border Guard Bangladesh on Saturday launched its 64 Ukhiya Battalion in Cox鈥檚 Bazar amid rising tension between the Myanmar military junta and the Arakan Army along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.
Home adviser retired Lieutenant General Jahangir Alam Chowdhury inaugurated the new Battalion by hoisting Bangladesh鈥檚 national flag at a ceremony at the BGB 34 Battalion in Cox鈥檚 Bazar.
BGB also launched three other units at the same event. The units are Station Headquarters and Guard Police Battalion in Dhaka鈥檚 Pilkhana and Dog Squad K-9 unit and Training Centre in Gazipur.
鈥楾he sensitivity along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border has increased many times over the ongoing internal conflict in Myanmar. Establishing a battalion along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border is a timely demand considering the ongoing situation,鈥� the home adviser said while addressing the ceremony.
He said that about 60,000 Rohingyas entered Bangladesh recently.
Jahangir also said that Arakan Army had occupied areas along the border.
He hoped that the newly launched Ukhiya Battalion would ensure flawless security along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, and prevent illegal intrusion, drugs, human trafficking, and Rohingyas鈥� intrusion.
With the latest Ukhiya Battalion, the BGB now has three battalions in Cox鈥檚 Bazar district. Two other battalions are the BGB 34 Battalion in Cox鈥檚 Bazar Sadar upazila and the BGB 2 Battalion in Teknaf upazila.
Border Guard Bangladesh director general, Major General Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, among others, was present in the inaugural ceremony.