Published on 08:37 PM, September 01, 2017

Bangladesh protests violation of airspace by Myanmar helicopters

BGB members stand guard at no man's land at Tomru Bazar in Bandarban's Naikhyangchhari upazila as some Rohingya children wade across a canal to collect drinking water. Fleeing the violence in Myanmar's Rakhine State, their families reached the area a few days ago. According to locals, several thousand Rohingyas have been living in tents set up along the canal. Photo: Anisur Rahman
Star Online Report

Bangladesh today lodged a "strong protest" with the Myanmar embassy in Dhaka as Myanmar helicopters violated Bangladesh's airspace near Ukhia in Cox's Bazar where Rohingyas fleeing violence in Rakhine state took shelter.

In a diplomatic note sent to the Embassy of Myanmar in Dhaka today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs protested the repeated instances of violation of Bangladesh's airspace by a number of Myanmar helicopters on August 27 and 28, and September 1.

Read More: 38,000 Rohingyas crossed into Bangladesh

This morning, Myanmar helicopters violated Bangladesh's airspace near Ukhia on three occasions, said a press release of the foreign ministry.

The ministry stressed that these instances of incursion into Bangladesh air space by Myanmar helicopters run contrary to the good neighbourly relations and could lead to unwarranted situation.

The ministry further emphasized that while Bangladesh has been cooperating with Myanmar in the security sector, such instances violation of sovereignty may affect the existing understanding and cooperation between the two countries. Bangladesh demanded Myanmar to take immediate measures to prevent recurrence of such incursion in future.

ALSO READ: Exodus of refugees turns fatal

Around 38,000 Rohingyas have crossed into Bangladesh from Myanmar, United Nations sources said, a week after Rohingya insurgents attacked police posts and an army base in Rakhine state, prompting clashes and a military counteroffensive.

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