Dhaka: Bangladesh has expressed concern at the loss of innocent lives in clashes in Myanmar and underscored the need for arresting the perpetrators for bringing them to justice.

Taking note of coordinated attacks on the Border Guard Police posts in Rakhine State on 10 October and clashes that followed, Bangladesh on Sunday said it finds these developments in Rakhine, bordering Bangladesh, ‘disturbing’ and Bangladesh unequivocally condemns the attacks on Myanmar forces.

‘Bangladesh will continue to assist Myanmar at this time of need,’ said the Foreign Ministry in Dhaka in a statement.

Bangladesh as a responsible neighbour on its own had sealed the borders with Myanmar in the early hours of 10 October to deny perpetrators easy escape.

Bangladesh apprehended two Muslims of Rakhine state and handed them over to the authorities of Myanmar within a day.

Bangladesh authorities are in constant touch with their Myanmar counterparts and providing help as requested, said the statement.

It said Bangladesh follows a ‘zero tolerance’ policy towards violent extremism and terrorism of any form and manifestation.

Bangladesh conducted a number of operations against Arakan Army and other ethnic armed groups originating from Myanmar in the recent times to help Myanmar.

Bangladesh returned two Tatmadaw members rescued from Arakan Army captivity last year.

‘Bangladesh believes that cooperation in these areas could be best realised under legal framework which Bangladesh has been stressing over two years.’

Such institutionalised cooperation, Bangladesh said, is needed to comprehensively address all aspects of insecurity, from drug to human trafficking to gun running to civil commotion and internal disturbances to insurgency.