Dhaka: Bangladesh and Myanmar have agreed to remove improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and land mines planted along the border of the two countries to avoid any possible casualties and injuries.

The decision was taken at a six-day border conference of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Myanmar Police Force (MPF) that concluded here on Thursday, BGB’s Additional Director General Anisur Rahman told a press briefing at its headquarters.

He said, “After detailed discussions, we’ve agreed to take necessary steps for removing improvised explosive devices and land mines from the border areas for smooth border management, including carrying out patrol.”

During the conference, he said, the BGB handed over a list of 49 Yaba factories inside Myanmar and asked the Myanmar delegation chief to take necessary steps to close down those as drug addiction is running the future of many youths.

Anisur Rahman said the Myanmar side took the issue seriously and assured Bangladesh of taking strong measures to stop Yaba trading along the border.

The Myanmar delegation leader agreed to cooperate with saying Myanmar is also equally active in curbing drug trafficking, especially that of Yaba, across the border.

The Myanmar side requested to establish another border entry point at the north of Teknaf. The proposal will be forwarded to the authorities concerned with due recommendation, he said.

Besides, he said, the two sides agreed to share information about border issues and act accordingly.

During the conference, both sides made a commitment to follow the Bangladesh-Myanmar Naaf River Agreement 1966, Bangladesh-Myanmar Border Agreement 1980 and Bangladesh-Myanmar Land Boundary Treaty 1998 in all respect for better border management and enhancing trust, cooperation, maintaining the rule of law along the border, said  Mohsin Reza, Public Relations officer at the BGB headquarters, while reading out a written joint statement of the conference.

The BGB PRO said the ADG of BGB expressed grave concern over the influx of people from Myanmar into Bangladesh illegally especially since October, 2016.

In response, Myanmar Chief of Police General Staff Brigadier General Myo Swe Win informed that the situation in Maungdaw of Myanmar is stable and normal. Both sides agreed to cooperate for preventing intrusion/infiltration into each other’s country, he said.

ADG, BGB Anisur Rahman also expressed his deep concern about the border crossing by Myanmar border security forces, firing on Bangladeshi nationals, including border security forces of Bangladesh, firing at and arresting of Bangladeshi fishermen along with their boats.

He requested for putting an end to such activities which may destabilise peace and tranquility in the border areas. The Myanmar Chief of Police General Staff also stressed the importance of maintaining peaceful coexistence and said necessary actions have taken to stop such firing and unwanted border crossing.

The six-day border conference began on April 1.

Brigadier General Anisur Rahman led the 16-member home side while Chief of Police General Staff Brigadier General Myo Swe Win led the six-member delegation of Myanmar.