Kaladan News
Date: Tuesday, September 07, 2004
Burma Resumes Its Border Transit Point after 14 Days
Teknaf, September 07: Burma
resumes its border transit point today with Bangladesh
on Maungdaw-Teknaf borderline and other frontier
points after 14 days apparently amid political tempers in Bangladesh
triggered by the August grenade attack, said Sayed
from Teknaf by telephone.
Today morning, Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) officials say Burma
border security forces resumes the route without prior notice.
Hearing the news of starting again of the transit point of Burma, people from Bangladesh
side are preparing to go to Burma.
Its border transit point with Bangladesh
on Teknaf-Maungdaw and other points have been closed
since 24th August 2004.
BDR official of 23rd Rifles Battalion in Teknaf
says today, Burma
border security forces (Nasaka) did not make any
explanation on the move.
Yesterday night, Nasaka officials posted a letter to the
Teknaf BDR saying that they had directives from the
headquarters to resume the Burma border from tomorrow September 7, 2004, said
the BDR official of Teknaf.
“A border trader from Teknaf, who is declined to
mention his name and formerly participated many times of Burma-Bangladsh flag meeting said, “ Burma authorities mostly Nasaka, they never give direct answers to the Bangladesh
authorities but they usually say that they would submit the proposals to the
higher authorities.”
An agreement between Burma
and Bangladesh
in 1988 allows citizens residing in 8 kilometers from the borders of the two
countries to travel on special transit pass. Businesspeople can also use the
route only for business purpose.
The officials also said they repeatedly ask the Nasaka
earlier to sit in a flag meeting at the commander level to talk about the
issue, but Burma
border forces didn’t show interest.
On 3rd September 2004,
the two sides sat at a camp-commander level flag meeting where Bangladesh
officials asked for implementation of the 1988 agreement and immediate opening
of the transit point. But Burma
officials without making any decision said that they would convey the proposal
to the higher officials. ##
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