The Border Guard Police (Burmese: နယ်ခြားစောင့်ရဲတပ်ဖွဲ့; abbreviated BGP) are a department of Myanmar's Myanmar Police Force, specialising in border control, counterinsurgency, crowd control and security checkpoints in border areas and insurgent areas, gathering intelligence in local areas to counterinsurgency and counter perpetrators in border areas, internal security, law enforcement in border areas and insurgency areas, and protecting agency assets in risky areas. The BGP operate in northern Rakhine State and are especially active along the Bangladesh–Myanmar border, due to the ongoing exodus of Rohingya people fleeing sectarian violence in Myanmar.[3] In addition to border security, the BGP are also responsible for manning checkpoints and documenting the movement of Rohingyas within Rakhine State.

Border Guard Police
Flag of Myanmar Border Guard Police
Founded2014–present[1]
Country Myanmar
BranchSpecial Department of the Myanmar Police Force
TypeBorder guard
RoleBorder control
Close-quarters combat
Counterinsurgency
Crowd control
Force protection
HUMINT
Internal security
Jungle warfare
Law enforcement
Mountain warfare
Patrolling
Raiding
Reconnaissance
Screening
Security checkpoint
Tracking
Urban warfare
Part ofMyanmar Police Force
Nickname(s)BGP
Commanders
Current
commander
Brig. Gen. Myint Toe[2]
Insignia
Emblem

In 2017, Insurgents of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army have repeatedly attacked BGP posts along the Bangladesh–Myanmar border in revenge for the BGP's mistreatment of the Rohingya.[4][5][6][7] In 2024, at least 264 Border Guard Police (BGP) and Myanmar Army fled to Bangladesh amid reports of heavy gunfights between the government troops and the Arakan Army in Myanmar civil war.[8]

References

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  1. ^ "Myanmar Police biography".
  2. ^ "Maungdaw Border Guard Police Chief Replaced". The Irrawaddy. 4 October 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  3. ^ Aziz, Abdul (September 25, 2017). "Myanmar reinforces barbed wire fence at border". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  4. ^ Lone, Wa; Naing, Shoon (2017). "At least 71 killed in Myanmar as Rohingya insurgents stage major attack". Reuters. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  5. ^ "Myanmar: Attacks on police, border guards kill at least 12". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  6. ^ Cochrane, Liam (21 November 2017). "Myanmar keeping Rohingyas 'in dehumanising system of apartheid', Amnesty says". ABC News. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  7. ^ "Machetes vs machine guns: Rohingya militants outgunned in Myanmar". Hindustan Times. 7 September 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  8. ^ "BGB: 264 members of Myanmar border, security forces taking shelter in Bangladesh". Dhaka Tribube. 6 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.