DHAKA, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Bangladeshi government has condemned the attacks on Myanmar forces and expressed concern at the loss of innocent lives in those clashes that occurred following recent deployment of forces in the neighboring country's Rathedaung-Buthidaung areas.
Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement Saturday that Bangladesh has taken note of renewed clashes after the attacks on the Myanmar Border Guard Police posts in the Rakhine state on Friday.
The Charge d'affaires of Myanmar Embassy in Dhaka met the Secretary (Asia & Pacific) of the Foreign Ministry Mahbub Uz Zaman on Saturday afternoon to discuss the evolving situation in the Rakhine State, said the statement.
Recalling the influx of Myanmar nationals into Bangladesh due to similar military operations in the aftermath of terrorist attacks on Oct. 9, 2016 that resulted in about 85,000 civilians crossing over to Bangladesh, Zaman informed that thousands of unarmed civilians including women, children and elderly people from the Rakhine state have assembled on the border in an attempt to enter Bangladesh.
Zaman expressed serious concern at the possibility of the recurrence of such a situation as Bangladesh already hosts about 400,000 Myanmar nationals, said the statement.
Following its policy of "zero tolerance" towards violent extremism and terrorism, Bangladesh assured Myanmar of continued cooperation in dealing with these challenges, according to the statement.
"Bangladesh also pointed out that the terrorist attacks and clashes occurred at a time when the Rakhine Advisory Commission, popularly known as Kofi Annan Commission, made recommendations towards a durable solution for the Rakhine state," said the statement.
The secretary (Asia & Pacific) also emphasized on addressing the underlying root cause of the protracted problem through a comprehensive and inclusive approach, said the statement.
