'No place for Myanmar terrorists in Bangladesh'

Amid the Myanmar army crackdown following attacks on border outposts, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has warned that Bangladesh's soil will not be used to shelter any 'terrorist from Myanmar'.

But she has also called for global intervention to mitigate the crisis.

The Myanmar army has declared the Muslim Rohingya-majority northern Rakhine state as an "operations zone", where it claims to be battling Islamist insurgents.

The crackdown began after border police nine personnel were killed in attacks by 'insurgents' at three outposts on Oct 9.

"I have instructed the intelligence agencies. If any of them (terrorist) enters Bangladesh, then they will be arrested," Hasina told a media conference on Saturday.

Hundreds of Rohingya Muslims are trying to flee the crackdown in an attempt to escape an upsurge of violence.

Authorities have confirmed 86 deaths and said that 69 of them were suspected militants. Rights groups claim the number of deaths is much higher.

Myanmar has also rebuffed claims by human rights groups of rape, arson and killing of civilians.

Speaking at the press conference, Hasina said that the global community needs to intervene. "The people over there are suffering."

Bangladesh border guards stepped up vigilance along the border since the crackdown, but many of these desperate Rohingyas did manage to sneak in.

UN officials say over 10,000 Rohingyas have crossed the border in to Bangladesh in recent weeks.

Source: bdnews24