BANGLADESH has taken a fresh move to build the best possible relations with Myanmar with the change of regime in the neighbouring country and decided to send a special envoy in Nay Pyi Taw to convey Dhaka’s intention to that end, as per a report in a national daily.Diplomatic sources said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is sending Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque as her special envoy to meet Myanmar President Htin Kyaw and its supreme leader and Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi to renew ties that will serve both countries strategic interests.The Foreign Ministry officials said Bangladesh has decided to handle Myanmar “very softly” and would not raise any issues that may irk the neighbouring country. To remove irritants Bangladesh last month suggested Myanmar should not register Rohingya Muslims in their country as Bangalees and also refrain from registering Rohingyas as “illegal migrants from Bangladesh.” But on Rohingya issue Dhaka would go soft to assist Myanmar in resolving the Rohingya problem.Dhaka has already expressed the readiness to allow Myanmar vessels to use its inland ports of Chittagong, Mongla, Narayanganj and Teknaf in while Myanmar has agreed that Bangladesh can use Yangon, Pathein, Sittwe and Maungtaw Ports expansion of trade. In fact Bangladesh has no problems with Myanmar save the push out of Rohingyas by successive Myanmar governments into Bangladesh beginning from 1978. Over 200,000 Rohingyas fled their homes due to military operation in the Rakhine state across Bangladesh border. They were temporarily sheltered in Bangladesh making it the bigger issue of discord between the two countries. The Rohingya people have been described as “amongst the world’s least wanted” and “one of the world’s most persecuted minorities.” They are deprived of the right to free movement and of higher education. They have been denied Myanmar citizenship since the country’s nationality law was enacted in recent past and not allowed to travel without official permission. More restrictions include they have to sign a pledge not to have more than two children. Rohingya have also lost a lot of arable land, which has been confiscated by the military to give it to Buddhist settlers.We in Bangladesh believe that Rohingya issue is a domestic Myanmar issue but since it has extended wings across the border, Bangladesh wants to help Myanmar government in resolving the issue. It is sensitive to Bangladesh as Myanmar also takes it a sensitive issue from its national perspective. So we believe that the move that Bangladesh government has taken up to improve the relations is a right step. We want to live with our southeastern neighbours in peace and cordiality at a time when an era of connectivity down to East Asia through Bangladesh and Myanmar is on card. We want closer government to government and people to people relation. We hope the new move may usher in an era also closer understanding from both sides.
