Kamal Uddin Mazumder
Myanmar is repeatedly breaking promises. The country is not honoring its promise not to violate the border. Instead, Myanmar’s helicopters are flying in the sky every day in the interior of Myanmar near the border of Bangladesh. The entire border area including Tumbru, Baishaphandi, RejuGorjanbania, Amtali of Naikshyangchari trembled with the loud sound of the shells fired from Bankar. Sometimes shells and mortar shells fired from Myanmar are coming inside Bangladesh. Local residents including 4500 Rohingyas who have taken shelter in ‘no man’s land’ are terrified.
They protested by summoning the Myanmar ambassador in Dhaka three times, but their aggressive activities did not stop. This time a Rohingya teenager died when a mortar shell fired from the mountains of Rakhine state across the Ghumdhum border of Naikxyongchariupazila of Bandarban fell on the zero line opposite the Tumbru border. Five Rohingya including a child were injured. In such a situation, the fear of new Rohingya influx in Bangladesh is increasing.
A source in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Daily Our Times that Bangladesh has decided to summon the country’s ambassador in Dhaka once again in the case of the Myanmar army’s shelling in Bangladesh and the death of one person. He was summoned by the Myanmar ‘wing’ of the Ministry of External Affairs. Apart from this, Bangladesh will raise the issue of Myanmar’s breach of promise and border violation in the upcoming UN General Session.
According to sources, Dhaka is monitoring the situation with patience. A clear message has been given that Bangladesh will not accept incidents like 2017 in any way. Dhaka’s concerns have been strongly conveyed through the Bangladesh Embassy in Naypyidaw. Foreign missions in Dhaka have also been informed that Bangladesh will not accept a single Rohingya. Rather, the message has also been given to focus on the repatriation of Rohingyas sheltered in Bangladesh as soon as possible.
Experts believe that Bangladesh should proceed diplomatically without indulging in any kind of provocation. Apart from neighboring India, Bangladesh has a land border only with Myanmar. There have been various tensions on that border for many years. In 2007, two Myanmar warships entered St. Martin. In 2011, they entered the Bangladesh border and abducted a BGB member with weapons. Bandarban’sThanchi was hit by mortar shells and bullets in 2012, 2016 and 2017. In 2014, Myanmar showed the audacity to kill a BGB member and take away his body in Bandarban’sNaikshyongchari. In 2019 and 2020, the country shows its share of St. Martin. Apart from this, since 2017, Myanmar helicopters have violated the airspace of Bangladesh more than 19 times. And several times in the last one month, Myanmar’s Choda mortar shells and ammunition have fallen inside Bangladesh. Last Friday, 5 mortar shells fell inside Bangladesh at Ghumdhum border of Naikxyongchariupazila of Bandarban. Another shell fired from Myanmar fell inside Bangladesh on Friday afternoon on September 9. It was the third shot. It also falls in an area called TumbruGhonarpara in Ward No. 2 of Ghumdhum Union of Naikshyongchari in Bandarban. However, no casualty occurred in this incident. Earlier on August 28, two mortar shells fired by the Myanmar Army fell in TumbruUttarparaJame Masjid area of the same union. There were no casualties as they did not explode. Later on, September 3 at 9:30 am, two shells fired from warplanes fell in the area between border pillars 40-41 under RejuAmtali BGB BOP of Ward No. 8.
Bangladesh-Myanmar border situation is causing concern, said United Nations Resident Representative Louise Nguyen. While talking to the journalists yesterday, he said that the border situation of Bangladesh is worrying from Rakhine. The UN is constantly monitoring, and regular contact is also being maintained with the Myanmar mission. He also said, to be honest, the whole incident is not clear. However, on-site viewing is not allowed. Therefore, Louis Nguyen requested both countries to maintain peace.
International analyst and professor of Dhaka University. Imtiaz Ahmad told Us Times, “Myanmar army is fighting the separatist group Arakan Army on the border. It is one thing if it is within them. But some ammunition is falling inside Bangladesh. Now Rohingyas are injured, killed. We will take it as provocation. It cannot be fired inside a free-sovereign country. The matter should be brought to the international platform. It could be the United Nations General Assembly. Besides, military-diplomatic activities can also be launched.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said, ‘Bangladesh does not want war with Myanmar; We want a solution through discussion. Talking to reporters about the border situation, he said, “We are strongly protesting the ammunition that is falling on our border. Talking to them. We have clearly stated our position. Our prime minister never wants war, we want peaceful solution. Let their internal conflict remain within their boundaries. I have always protested what is coming out. We will continue our efforts to find a peaceful solution. We will take it to the United Nations. We will do everything.” The Home Minister also mentioned the issue of not keeping Myanmar’s word in the talks at various times. He said, ‘Myanmar never keeps its word. We are making all bilateral and multilateral efforts. Our efforts will continue.
Minister of Foreign Affairs. AK Abdul Momen told our time, “We are closely monitoring the situation. We want a peaceful solution. Myanmar Army is fighting against Arakan Army forces on their border. As a result, some untoward things happened. We have called their ambassador and protested strongly. They claimed the incident was not intentional. Still we have sealed our border.’
Myanmar is carrying out one after another ‘aggressive’ activities in the border areas of Bangladesh in violation of all international norms. The country is doing this even though the situation of placing mines in the area near the zero line of the border is very dangerous. Earlier, Rohingyas were killed in such mine blasts, but now Bangladeshis are being victimized. On Friday, a Bangladeshi youth’s leg was blown off in this mine explosion. On the same day, a Rohingya youth was killed and 5 others injured in a shell fired from Myanmar. The presence of the Myanmar army in the border area without a war situation is against international policy, but the country does not accept it. At the same time, anxiety and fear are increasing in the unilateral behavior of the country. The question of whether Myanmar’s border violation will continue has also been raised in the recent context.
Meanwhile, it has been informed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the Myanmar ambassador appointed in Dhaka has been summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday in connection with the firing incident at Tambru border. Earlier, Bangladesh strongly protested by summoning him three times in a similar incident.
Meanwhile, the 12 villages of Ghumdhum Union on the Bangladesh-Myanmar border of BandarbanNaikshyongchari are becoming increasingly unsafe due to repeated incidents of border violations by Myanmar. Already, due to insecurity, the SSC examination center has been moved from Ghumdhum High School in the interior of Bangladesh along the border. The safety of about 17 thousand Bangladeshis including women and children living in those villages is under threat. NaikxyongchariUpazila Executive Officer Salma Ferdous told Dhaka Times that a letter has been sent to the Chittagong Divisional Commissioner through the Bandarban District Commissioner seeking instructions regarding their evacuation and security. The Divisional Commissioner will send it to Dhaka.
On the other hand, 200 km border has been sealed to prevent infiltration. Patrolling has been strengthened along with the deployment of additional members of Bangladesh Border Guard-BGB at the concerned border. No one is allowed near the Zero Line of the border. BGB Headquarters Director (Operation) Lieut. Colonel Faizur Rahman told Dhaka Times on Saturday, ‘BGB is monitoring the situation. Security has been beefed up at the border to prevent any infiltration.”
Experts say that Myanmar seems to be inciting Bangladesh to war. They also raised questions about whether they want to trap Bangladesh in war. Experts say that two factors are in front of several factors, firstly, it is creating a situation where the rest of the Rohingyas trapped in that country are forced to migrate to Bangladesh. Second, the international process that has begun to repatriate the 1.2 million Rohingyas who are embroiled in war in Bangladesh may become a long-winded or hanging trap. Experts believe that they are doing such activities as a part of incitement for Bangladesh to join the war.
Officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh say that the Foreign Minister, State Minister and Secretary of Bangladesh are staying in London to attend the UN session. They have already been informed about the border incident. According to their instructions, Aung Kyaw Mo, Myanmar’s ambassador to Bangladesh, has been summoned on Sunday.
Earlier too, mortar shells were fired at the border from Myanmar several times. Myanmar’s ambassador to Bangladesh, Aung Kyaw Mo, was summoned thrice in that incident. On August 20 and 28 and September 3, mortar shells arrived in Bangladesh from Myanmar. Because of that, on August 21 and 29 and on September 4, the ambassador of Myanmar was called and protested strongly. Still, Myanmar is throwing mortar shells one after another on the border. However, Bangladesh has been informed by the side of Myanmar that the conflict between the Myanmar army and the Arakan army is going on. Myanmar has claimed that the mortar shells fired at the Arakan forces are reaching the Bangladesh border.
Bangladesh should find a way to solve the problem through discussion through diplomatic channels rather than engaging in war. Bangladesh has to walk on the same path as Bangladesh is dealing with the situation patiently without stepping into the trap of Myanmar’s provocation.
Mentioning that Bangladesh is showing patience, this security expert said, “The incident of shelling from Myanmar inside Bangladesh is a clear violation of international law.” A tough military response would not be best in such a situation.’ As Myanmar repeatedly violates international law, Bangladesh can step up diplomacy.
Can be a trap. There may be different motives behind. Because the Rohingyas will flee if their lives are threatened. And if they escape, they will try to enter Bangladesh. Bangladesh should talk about this issue in the international forum to clarify what is the intention of Myanmar. “Myanmar may have provoked war to delay or suspend the process of repatriation of Rohingyas who are in Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, putting Myanmar’s mines on the border is a final violation of international rules, Myanmar is repeatedly violating our borders and airspace. These are the audacity of Myanmar. They get away with violating international norms. So doing it again and again. They are showing this audacity because they have not been punished in the past.
Myanmar sometimes deliberately fires mortar shells. By creating a pressure, they want the rest of the Rohingyas in Myanmar to go to Bangladesh or other countries. I think this is one of the reasons for the recent shelling. Apart from this, incitement is also being given for Bangladesh to join the war. This is another reason why they will oppress Rohingya even more if they engage in war. In that case, the rest of the Rohingya will try to enter Bangladesh without seeing any other option.
Panic in 12 villages of Ghumdhum Union
The 64.75 square kilometer Ghumdhum Union is shaking with the loud sound of artillery, mortar shells and shells. There are 12 villages in this border union, Kachubnia, Tambru, Dakshin Ghumdhum, Phatrazhiri, Baraitli Para, Baispari, Bhajbania, RejuGorjanbania, RejuVaidyarchhara, RejuMogpara, RejuHedmanpara. According to the latest census, its population is 16 thousand 479 people. The places where shells are coming from Myanmar recently are in this union. Tambru, Baishpari and Hedman villages here are at extra risk, said the locals.
The area has a college, a secondary school, a Dakhil Madrasa and 14 primary schools. The students of these educational institutions are in a state of panic due to the recent tension on the border. There is no limit to the worries of parents about them.
The country’s security forces have been firing indiscriminately, firing artillery and mortar shells at the strongholds of the Arakan Army and the insurgents in the Walidong and Okhyamansek hills of Myanmar’s Rakhine State, opposite the Tambru border in Ghumdhum. This situation has been going on for more than a month. Some of which are coming to Bangladesh. The SSC exam center at Ghumdhum High School has been shifted to Ukhia due to panic in this incident.
Meanwhile, the Rohingya shelter camp at the foot of Walidong mountain in Rakhine state. More than 4,200 Rohingyas have been living there for five years. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has been providing food and relief aid to the Rohingya in the camp. A Rohingya youth named Iqbal was killed and 5 others were injured when Myanmar shelling came at that camp on Friday.
Incidentally, since August 13, the Arakan Army (AA), a pro-independence armed group, has been fighting with the country’s security forces in the Walidong and KhyMongSek hills of Myanmar’s Rakhine State opposite the Tambru border. Myanmar has increased its activities on land and sea. For three days, three ships of the country’s navy have begun operations in Myanmar waters opposite St. Martin (to the east). However, Bangladesh Navy and Coast Guard are also active there.