BGB redeployed at St Martin’s island after 22 years

BGB members are deployed at Saint Martin’s Island in Teknaf upazila of Coxs Bazar. Photo UNB
BGB members are deployed at Saint Martin’s Island in Teknaf upazila of Coxs Bazar. Photo UNB

The government has redeployed members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) after 22 years since 1997 at Saint Martin’s Island in Teknaf upazila in Cox's Bazar.

Teknaf BGB acting commander lieutenant colonel Sarkar Mohammad Mustafizur Rahman told Prothom Alo that a border outpost was introduced to check smuggling and ensure security at the island.

Quoting sources at the BGB headquarters, news agency UNB said BGB members started patrolling the St. Martin's Island, a small island in the northeastern part of the Bay of Bengal, with heavy weapons from Sunday morning.

“Adequate BGB members have been deployed in the island at the directive of the government. The number will be increased further,” Mohammad Mohsin Reza, BGB public relations officer (headquarters), told UNB.

He said the paramilitary troops were also there in the island until 1997.

“They (BGB members) have been deployed there again this (Sunday) morning alongside members of other law-enforcement agencies, including Coast Guard, to ensure security of the island,” Reza said without elaborating what has actually prompted the government to deploy the BGB members there.