Overview

• About 340 members of Burma's Border Guard Police and soldiers fled to Bangladesh during fighting with the Arakan Army, a significant ethnic rebel group.
• The exodus marks the first time Burmese forces have fled into Bangladesh since the ethnic minority armies' offensive against Burma's military government late last year.
• Bangladesh's foreign minister, Hasan Mahmud, confirmed the entry of the troops and discussions with Burma's government about their return.
• India ends visa-free movement with Burma to bolster internal security amid the ongoing conflict.
• The conflict near the Bangladesh border raises fears of a spillover, with recent incidents of stray shelling causing casualties in Bangladesh.