Five
years have passed since the influx of Rohingya refugees displaced from Myanmar
to Bangladesh has not started repatriation. In this situation, there is a fear
of the entry of other ethnic groups from Myanmar to Bangladesh apart from the
Rohingyas.
Myanmar’s
internal crisis has become more pronounced in the past few days. Every day
there are shootings in the country. And that is near the Bangladesh border.
Incidentally,
the conflict has been going on inside Myanmar for several days. Conflict is
ongoing in Myanmar’s Rakhine state, an area bordering Bangladesh and India.
This clash has created panic in the border areas of Bangladesh. Apart from
this, fear has also arisen among the Rohingyas who fled to Bangladesh due to
persecution from Myanmar. Diplomatic analysts fear negative impact on
repatriation issue.
Apart
from this, due to this conflict in Myanmar, the remaining Rohingya and other
ethnic groups are trying to leave the country. Rohingyas are again entering
Bangladesh through Myanmar border.
According
to media reports, 10-15 Rohingyas have taken refuge in Ukhiya Kutupalong and
Balukhali camps in Cox’s Bazar in the last two days due to the conflict in
Myanmar.
Shooting
in Myanmar is not confined to the country. One after another the shells are
coming on the border of Bangladesh. Myanmar’s ongoing military operations in
parts of its west will once again force people like the Rohingya to flee to
neighboring countries. Now the number of Rohingyas there is very less.
According
to some reports, some western countries and NGO have already encouraged the
Rohingyas in Myanmar to leave Myanmar by announcing the rehabilitation of
Rohingyas from Bangladesh. It can be seen that Rohingyas as well as people of
other ethnic groups will try to infiltrate neighboring countries to take
advantage of this opportunity.
This time,
Bangladesh is in a strict position to prevent the entry of Rohingyas. Even
border surveillance has been strengthened. Referring to Bangladesh’s more
cautious position, Foreign Minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen said, we are trying to
find out what is actually happening in Myanmar. We are also getting some news
through unconfirmed sources. What I have come to know is that there are some
fights with the Arakan Army inside Myanmar.
He said,
“Because the place of incident is near the border of Bangladesh, it sometimes
comes here. Keeping things under constant watch. We have already heard from
unconfirmed sources that the Myanmar Army has asked people in their border
areas to leave the area. As a result of which we fear, some people may
immigrate to our country. We have already put our BGB and other forces on alert
for this. They have taken more measures, so that no citizen of Myanmar can come
to our country.
State
Minister of Foreign Affairs. Shahriar Alam said, ‘The situation is being
monitored with patience. Now where these events are happening, no Rohingya
lives anymore. That’s why there is no danger of Rohingya influx. I understand
that their (Myanmar) internal situation may have deteriorated. That’s their
thing. We are saying that there should be no impact on the border of
Bangladesh. When the Rohingyas came in 2016-17, we could not prevent or we did
not want to prevent for humanitarian reasons. But now we have some information,
which was not there at that time.
He said
the incident of Myanmar receiving ammunition on the border of sovereign
Bangladesh is “extremely painful”. The ambassador has been repeatedly summoned
in recent incidents. In response, the embassy could not say anything other than
that it was ‘by mistake’. This time, Dhaka has expressed its dissatisfaction to
the country’s foreign ministry through the Bangladesh embassy in Naypyidaw.
This behavior of Myanmar has been reported to other embassies in Dhaka.
Meanwhile,
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen told reporters that the Myanmar ambassador
has been informed of these incidents and has been warned not to repeat such
incidents in the future.
Despite
warning to Myanmar, mortars are falling on Bangladesh border. At the same time
on September 4, a news titled ‘Myanmar does not heed warning, shelling panics
across the border’ caught people’s attention. Bangladesh is an independent and
sovereign state. In 1971, we got the red-green flag and freedom in exchange for
the honor of 3 million martyrs and 2 million mothers and sisters. Not
hostility; Friendship is our foreign policy. Bangladesh has set a unique
example by creating friendly relations with neighboring countries. When Myanmar
persecuted the Rohingyas from their country, Bangladesh gave them shelter. These
Rohingyas are living in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasanchar. While the large number of
Rohingya is a thorn in the country’s side, the government is dealing with that
risk for humanitarian reasons. Bangladesh is the sponsoring country of South
Asian Regional Cooperation Organization-SAARC. Since its inception, the country
has been careful to maintain good relations with its neighbours.
As we
know, there is ongoing internal violence in Myanmar. Apart from the state
forces, members of various separatist organizations are also losing their
lives. Violence has been raging in Myanmar’s Rakhine for two weeks. Their
shells and mortar shells are falling on the Ghumdhum-Tumbru border of
Naikxyongchari upazila of Bandarban, Bangladesh. There is panic among the
locals. The Bangladesh government protested after the first round of mortar
shelling. He summoned the country’s ambassador posted in Dhaka and warned.
Still the fear does not stop. Because, the shell came after the mortar shell
fell. A repeat of such an incident within 7 days of warning naturally creates
panic. The question is, is Myanmar not paying attention to Bangladesh’s
warning? Bangladesh is not antagonism; Believes in friendly foreign policy but
does not believe in kneeling foreign policy. Keep in mind that no leaf trap can
be stepped on. It should also be kept in mind whether Myanmar is provoking by
firing mortar shells. We must protest from our position without falling into
any provocation.
It has
been six years since the Rohingyas took refuge in Bangladesh. The Rohingya
problem is not yet resolved. Due to the security situation in Myanmar and the
ongoing global crisis, the repatriation process has not yet started.
Negotiations are ongoing on behalf of Bangladesh through the international
community. After the military coup in Myanmar on February 1, 2021, the overall
security situation there has further deteriorated.
Violent
anti-junta protests, protests and bloodshed have pushed Myanmar into a conflict
situation, an ongoing situation that creates uncertainty over Rohingya
repatriation, but Bangladesh continues to negotiate repeatedly. While
Bangladesh is negotiating through the international community for the dignified
return of the Rohingyas to their home country, various activities in Myanmar
are causing security concerns and instability. In the fifth joint working group
(JWG) meeting between Bangladesh and Myanmar on the repatriation of the
Rohingyas on June 14, Bangladesh highlighted the need for the rapid
repatriation of the Rohingyas and called for the verification of the Rohingyas
to be completed as soon as possible, to ensure their safety, livelihood and
welfare.
Also, the
Rohingyas staying in various camps in Bangladesh organized programs to attract
the attention of the international community. It can be said that two mortar
shells fired from Myanmar have reached the border of Bangladesh just when
efforts are being made to speed up the repatriation of the Rohingyas. On August
28 last Sunday, around 3:30 pm, two mortar shells fell in Tumbra Bazar area of
Ghumdhum border of Naikshyongchari, Bandarban. However, there were no
casualties as they did not explode. It was revealed in the press that the
incident of the unexploded mortar shell falling on the border of Bangladesh was
an accident or intentional, quoting the foreign secretary. Mortar is not a
stone or a jute which is hit on one side and forgotten on the other side. To
fire a mortar, it has to be prepared and fired in a military manner. So it’s
provocative it’s clear – which is not desirable at all. After this incident,
two bullets fell in Bangladesh from the warplanes of the Myanmar army. Last
Saturday morning, these two bullets fell in the slumber of Bandarban’s
Naikxyongchari upazila. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam said
that Myanmar Ambassador U Aung Kyaw Mo will be summoned again in this incident
yesterday. This time, not a single Myanmar citizen will be allowed to enter
Bangladesh.
All
law-and-order forces, including the border guards, have already been ordered to
monitor the situation. The Arakan Army has been fighting Myanmar’s army across
the border in Rakhine state for more than two weeks, local authorities and
residents said. Later in the afternoon, a mortar shell fell within the border
of Bangladesh. The BGB patrolling the border said that the BGB authorities have
strengthened security at the border and are on high alert. On the other hand,
there has been panic among the people of the area due to mortar shells. No one
is allowed to approach the zero line. On August 25, 2017, the Myanmar Army
launched an operation in Rakhine State. Faced with their indiscriminate
killings and arson, more than 700,000 Rohingya fled and took shelter in
Bangladesh. Currently, the number of Rohingyas registered in 33 shelter camps
in Ukhia and Teknaf is 1.25 million.
At the
same time, more than 6,000 Rohingyas built a shelter camp in the south of the
Konarpara Canal in Ghumdhum Union of Naikshyongchari and started settling.
Shots were suddenly fired from the helicopter yesterday afternoon. It is none
of Bangladesh’s business who the Myanmar military will fight with when. But for
any reason, their mortar shelling inside Bangladesh is provocative. A week
after mortar shells were fired on the border of Bangladesh on August 28,
shelling again took place on September 3. These scandals are undoubtedly
provocative. Myanmar has no choice to refrain from this crime. No mortar or
shelling is desirable without repatriation of Rohingyas.
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