Tense situation prevails along Bangladesh-Myanmar border as the latter's military forces continue building up its troops with heavy weapons on the frontiers.

Bangladesh security forces have been kept on high alert along the border, home ministry sources said.

"We are alert to the developments and will take steps accordingly through discussion," Home Minister Sahara Khatun told The Daily Star yesterday. She said the government is seriously looking into the situation.

Security and international affairs expert have suggested that the government prepares for both military and diplomatic measurers to face the situation. ”We should not sit idle and take all necessary measurers immediately," said Prof Imtiaz Ahmed of Dhaka University. Talking to The Daily Star he said the government would have to address the issue with utmost importance in regional and international forums immediately.

Highly placed sources in the government said the foreign minister is trying to trim down the tension between the two next-door neighbours through bilateral talks.

The tension grew as the Myanmar military junta deployed huge troops with heavy weapons within five kilometres of the border and many of them frequently intruded into Bangladesh territory.

Sources from borders said this week the Myanmar's military junta had deployed at least five light infantry battalions within five kilometres of border on their side. Bangladesh considers about 50 km land border from 31 to 56 international border pillars as most threatened by the Myanmar forces.

Myanmar troops also fired several shots towards Bangladesh territory on Wednesday, sources said.

Bangladesh reinforced its troops along the border with Myanmar as tension went high following repeated provocative acts by the latter’s military forces including violation of international border law and illegal construction of barbed-wire fences along the frontier.

In recent years and months, Myanmar authorities have constructed new roads, bunkers along the borders, renovated a nearby airport and started fencing the border as part of its provocative activities.

Prof Imtiaz opined that it would be tough for Bangladesh to push-back huge number of unregistered Rohingyas to Myanmar if its troops complete constructing barbed wire fence through the two country's border and increases its troops there.