Daily Times

Armed with powerful guns and ammunition, Myanmar soldiers have been patrolling along the barbed wire barriers close to the Bangladeshi border. On September 4, Maynmar soldiers were also spotted with heavy weapons stationed in bunkers close to the border.

As soldiers were spotted patrolling in groups inside Myanmar along the zero-point fence of the Ghumdhum Konarpara border, fear permeates among the Rohingyas residing at the zero-point, especially the locals of the Ghumdhum-Tumbru border. “Near the zero-point, there are about 4,500 Rohingya residents. We are all not at peace. We live in fear every single day,” said a Rohingya local.

On the Myanmar side of the border, near pillars 33-2, soldiers with powerful weaponry could be seen stationed in a bunker. “Myanmar soldiers are firing more. We are terrified. Along the border, there are now more army personnel. Soldiers patrol throughout the day and night. On Sunday as well, hundreds of soldiers with rifles in hand patrolled the barbed wire boundary entering Myanmar. They don’t observe day or night and shoot whenever they choose,” another local remarked.

According to locals, the Myanmar military has been firing and shelling from helicopters near the border for a considerable amount of time. The people of the bordering areas of Bangladesh are spending their days in fear due to repeated mortar shell blasts and gunfire inside Myanmar. Myanmar helicopters are also practising in the airspace. Among them, the fear of Bangladeshis increased after two unexploded mortar shells flew from the side of Myanmar at the Tumbru border in Bandarban. BGB is said to be on high alert with increased patrolling.

An unstable Rakhine region threatens the safe and dignified return of the Rohingya population.

Fighting between the Myanmar army and the Arakan Army, a pro-independence armed group of the country, has been increasing for several days in Rakhine State, bordering Myanmar. The activity of jet fighters and helicopters of the country’s armed forces has increased inside Myanmar.

The houses of Bangladeshis on the border are shaking with the sound of explosions and gunfire there. Residents of Tumbru village of Ghumdhum union of Naikxyongchari Upazila of Bandarban are spending their days in extreme fear. The people of that region do not go out of the house unless it is necessary. Police administration and public representatives say that between 25 and 40 mortar shell explosions are heard inside the Myanmar border. The border people feel unsafe in this.

BGB is on alert in the border situation in Myanmar. Bangladesh has also strongly protested the incident of Myanmar mortar shells flying inside Bandarban.

According to a news release from the foreign ministry, on Saturday, September 3, two mortar shells fired from Maynmar landed within Bangladesh between border posts 40 and 41 in the early morning at Ghumdhum union of Naikhongchhari Upazila. Over Naikhongchhari Upazila in Bandarban, at least four fighter aircraft from Myanmar are said to have entered Bangladeshi airspace the same day. According to reports, on August 30, a Myanmar Army helicopter crossed the border with Bangladesh and fired several rounds toward the hills near Ghumdhum union in Bandarban’s Naikhongchari Upazila.

On Sunday, September 4, the Myanmar Ambassador to Bangladesh, U Aung Kyaw Moe, was requested to meet with the Director General of Myanmar, Wing Mia Mainul Kabir, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ambassador was also informed at the meeting that such acts were a serious threat to the safety and security of Bangladesh’s peace-loving citizens, a breach of the bilateral border agreement, and inimical to good neighbourly relations. Additionally, Ambassador U Aung Kyaw Moe was admonished to prevent any trespassing by internally displaced Myanmar citizens coming from Rakhine.

Bangladesh, as a neighbouring country, is more affected by any kind of aggressive attitude in Myanmar. Unfortunately, Bangladesh also could not adopt a strong policy against Myanmar’s junta. The country’s military policymakers have been playing a trick on Bangladesh for decades. As a neighbouring country, they do not uphold international norms and values. The Rohingya are stressed about the crisis: whenever they make promises, they break them at convenient times. They have not kept any promises on this issue so far. But Bangladesh has never taken a strict stand against these injustices. Rather, they have always maintained a normal relationship.

Basically, Bangladesh wants friendship and neighbourly relations with Myanmar. But Myanmar doesn’t show the same positive attitude towards Bangladesh.

The mortar shells fired on Sunday are an example of Myanmar’s blatant disrespect for Bangladesh’s sovereignty, bilateral relations with Bangladesh and regional peace. The Myanmar government is yet to acknowledge the incident or clarify its position. Such disregard was also evident when Myanmar helicopters repeatedly violated Bangladeshi airspace in August and September 2017, to which the Bangladesh government strongly objected. But the continuation of these incidents points to Myanmar’s ongoing violation of international law. Furthermore, it runs counter to friendly neighbourly relations and may result in unexpected events that may be in the interest of not only Myanmar but also Bangladesh and other neighbouring countries. An unstable Rakhine region threatens the safe and dignified return of the Rohingya population, and an unstable border threatens those living there. A stable and peaceful neighbourhood is always desirable and essential for any country. To protect the interests of both countries, as well as the international community, the government of Bangladesh must protest against its colleagues in Myanmar and demand an explanation of the mortar shell attack.

Bangladesh can destabilise the entire region by supporting Myanmar’s rebel groups if it wants to. But Bangladesh does not support any kind of insurgency or provocation in the region as they believe in the peaceful coexistence of every region. Myanmar must respect Bangladesh’s peaceful attitude, mentality and process. Myanmar must be aware that Bangladesh has a strong military, modern military supply, the support of the international community and the opportunity to support Myanmar’s rebels. Lately, Myanmar has been continuously violating the sovereignty of Bangladesh. It is very unexpected. No state has the right to violate the sovereignty of another state on its borders. This is a clear violation of international laws, norms, and customs. The relations between the neighbours of the two countries must be taken into consideration by the Myanmar authorities. They must understand that there is no war on the border. It is the Arakan Army and its internal affairs. It has the right to do everything within its jurisdiction. But it should be remembered that Bangladesh is a sovereign state. Intentional or unintentional border shelling cannot be accepted as an answer. Myanmar has no right to violate the jurisdiction of another state. Such an attitude is not acceptable in international circles. Myanmar must deescalate tensions at the Bangladesh border.

The writer is a freelance columnist