DHAKA: Myanmar Thursday said it is building new checkpoints along its border with Bangladesh in Rakhine state.

Myanmar home ministry told parliament the government is also resuming the construction of a fence along the border, reports Voice of America (VoA).      

Khin Saw Wai, a member of parliament from Rakhine state who pushed for the new security measures, told VOA`s Burmese service that people from Bangladesh are coming into Mayanmar at will because there is not enough security along the border.    

“Although we have a fence at Burma’s (now known as Myanmar) western door between Bangladesh and our Maung Daw region [Rakhine State], this cannot stop illegal entry into the country,” he said.    

“The Bengali population has increased.  We have only seen illegal entering and no effective system to stop it. That is why we want the government to control this situation.”

“I submitted the proposal to increase security for the Rakhine region in parliament.  Now I read in the news that there will be 15 more security gates at the border, but I don’t know where exactly they will be built,” he added.”

BDST: 1629 HRS, MAR 21, 2104