Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Monday hoped that there would be no further mortar shells from Myanmar landing inside Bangladesh territory amid conflicts inside Myanmar.
“There are conflicts in Myanmar. Amid those ongoing conflicts, mortar shells fell on Bangladesh territory from Myanmar. Our forces along the border remain alert,” he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs while responding to a question.
The foreign minister said the government of Bangladesh remains in touch with the Myanmar authority and hoped that it would not happen again. “We remain alert.”
Media reported quoting the local sources that gunshots between the two conflicting groups were heard from Ukhiya and Teknaf border areas in Cox’s Bazar on Sunday.
On Sunday, the foreign minister said, “Situation in Myanmar has never been good. It always fluctuates – sometimes good, sometimes bad. Myanmar is going through such a situation.”
He, however, said this current situation is an adverse one for the repatriation of the Rohingyas to their place of origin in Rakhine.
Talking to reporters, UN Resident Coordinator in Dhaka Gwyn Lewis said the security situation inside Myanmar is very difficult at the moment and it is not a good time for Rohingya repatriation.
The UNRC said repatriation is a priority for Bangladesh, and Rohingyas as well as Bangladesh have agreed on their safe and dignified return to Myanmar.
“We will continue to work in that direction,” she said, noting that there is a shortage of financing for the basic services that the Rohingyas need.