It's mere rumour

Myanmar border security force Nasaka yesterday denied troops mobilisation along its border with Bangladesh terming the allegation a “mere rumour”.
Nasaka made the claim at a flag meeting with Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in the Maungdaw township of Myanmar. The meeting was convened to ease the tension brewed over the reports of Myanmar massing troops on the border.
According to unconfirmed sources, the Myanmar government had mobilised troops at different points along the border near Naikkhangchhari, Ukhia and Teknaf upazilas after a UN-backed tribunal sustained Bangladesh's claim to 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic and territorial rights in the Bay of Bengal rejecting the claims of Myanmar.
Alarmed by such reports, BGB officials Thursday wrote for a flag meeting to their Myanmar counterpart.
In the two-hour meeting held at the office of Nasaka sector-6, Lt Col Zahid Hasan, commander of BGB Teknaf battalion-42 and leader of the eight-member Bangladesh side, sought an explanation from Myanmar on its troops build-up.
“We have information that Myanmar had been mobilising troops at different points along the border, including Tumbro, Boliabazar and Maungdaw,” Lt Col Zahid told the Nasaka officials.
In reply, U Theng Mi, leader of the 10-member Myanmar side, categorically denied the allegation.
He said the reports of troops mobilisation are nothing but rumours. “No situation has arisen which required reinforcement at the borders,” he added.
“There is no scope for Nasaka or any other forces to oppose the verdict of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea as the Myanmar government has accepted it,” said Lt Col Zahid quoting Theng Mi as saying.
U Theng Mi said the lingering misunderstanding between the border forces of the two countries will end once the maritime boundary is demarcated. “The judgement would help us work better,” he added.
The BGB delegation returned to Teknaf around noon.
Lt Col Zahid said he had rejected the Nasaka officials allegation that Bangladesh media was spreading the rumour of troops mobilisation.
Visiting several areas including Balukhali and Tumbro border on Thursday, Bashirul Islam, commander of BGB Chittagong sector, said he did not find any sign of troops mobilisation by Myanmar.
The verdict of the international tribunal in Hamburg, Germany on Wednesday gave Bangladesh a substantial share of the outer continental shelf of the Bay which would pave the way for offshore oil and gas exploration for the country.
The tribunal also awarded Bangladesh a full 12-mile territorial sea around the St Martin's Island overruling Myanmar's claim that the island be split into half and shared.