Dhaka: Terming shameful the abduction of a Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) member by Myanmar border force, Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Saturday demanded the government enhance the efficiency and capability of the force to stop recurrence of such incidents.

‘It’s a matter of shame that Myanmar newspapers published a photo of BGB Nayek Abdur Razzak who was abducted by the border force of that country,’ said BNP spokesman Asaduzzaman Ripon.

He further said, ‘Our heads have hung in shame seeing the photo of handcuffed and lungi-wearing member of border guard of a nation which had forced over 90,000 members of Pakistani solders to surrender, carried out a big Liberation War and built an independent Bangladesh.’

Addressing a press briefing at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, Ripon demanded the government immediately bring back the BGB Nayek through intensified diplomatic efforts.

He also asked the government to issue a strong warning to Myanmar so that they do not dare to repeat such an incident in the future.

Myanmar’s Border Guard Police (BGP) opened fire on a Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) patrol boat in Teknaf of Cox’s Bazar district in the early hours of Wednesday.

A BGB sepoy, Biplob Kumar, suffered bullet wounds during the firing and another BGB member, Abdur Razzak, was abducted by the BGP. Abdur Razzak is yet to be released by the BGP.

Voicing deep concern over the incident, the BNP spokesman said, ‘The border force of another country dared to carry out such an incident as our BGB members are not used properly.’

‘Almost every day our people are getting killed along the borders. It’s the BGB’s responsibility to ensure security along our border and the lives of our people. It’s not their duty to suppress the opposition and shoot them. We’re observing with regret that our border guards are not used properly and they are not developed efficiently,’ the BNP leader said.

Referring to the deployment of BGB members to face political problems, he said, ‘During the opposition’s movement, BGB director general Major General Aziz Ahmed made a boastful remark that BGB men carry arms to use those. We also believe in lawful use of arms. But, a BGB member was shot and another abducted by the border force of another country though they were equipped with lethal arms.’

The BNP leader urged the government to take measures so that the GBG members can concentrate on their main duty to protect and guard the border.

‘We call upon the government to take necessary steps for enhancing the capability of our BGB members so that no foreign troops dare to pick up them in such an insulting way. They should be building with enough professional skills and strength so that no force dares to shoot them,’ the BNP leader added.