Unrest in the Rohingya camp is increasing day by day where almost every day Rohingyas are killed in internal and sectarian quarrels. Besides, it is not only the Rohingyas who are being killed, but also the local Bengalis. Due to the anti-social activities and instability of the Rohingyas, the local Bengalis are selling their lands and moving to Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong or Dhaka. The Rohingyas are buying their land with different tactics. A significant portion of the market and trade of Ukhia-Teknaf has already been taken over by the Rohingyas. At the local level, in Cox’s Bazar, even in Chittagong, employers are employing Rohingyas as cheap labor in various manual labor camps. This is changing the demographic indicators at the local level. Locals are being deprived of job opportunities, resulting in increasing Rohingya hatred among them day by day.
About 1.2 million Rohingyas sheltered in Bangladesh were not only a threat to the country’s security, but also to the region’s. Bangladesh is geographically located on the shore of the Bay of Bengal and as such on the shore of the Indian Ocean. This ocean has huge significance for various reasons. Indian Ocean consists of a number of vital maritime routes, which contribute significantly to the largest economies of Asia. In the area of maritime boundary and maritime economy, Bangladesh believes that strong competition among each other will not be helpful in flourishing the Blue Economy of the Bay of Bengal or the Indian Ocean. It will rather act as a stumbling block in ensuring security and stability of the region. Bangladesh is always active in enhancing peaceful and cooperative relations in the region of the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean.
Different threats like piracy, armed robbery, and terrorist attacks in coastal and maritime areas, human trafficking, arms and drug smuggling, exist in the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal region. These unconventional risks should be addressed collectively. The economies of the countries ashore of or dependent on the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal, and the lives of their people are hugely influenced by the ocean and the sea. The resources, environment, ecology and security of the ocean and the sea directly affect the economy and the security of these nations. Therefore, peace and stability in the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal is essential for the economic progress and security of these countries.
The Myanmar security forces have unleashed a “war” of sorts against the Rohingya – an ethnic minority group living for centuries in the Rakhine state of Myanmar – burning down their villages, killing their men and raping their women, committing what can be termed as “crimes against humanity” that has resulted in nearly 500 dead and nearly 200,000 taking shelter in Bangladesh, which has hosted Rohingya refugees for more than three decades in varying numbers depending on the level of oppression across the border.
The Rohingya issue has posed external and internal security threats to Bangladesh because Myanmar is breathing down our neck. Almost every day, as I learned from newspapers, the forces are firing here and there and their helicopters are violating our airspace. We need an aggressive and proactive diplomacy. We still do not know whether Bangladesh has sent any envoy to India and China to discuss the ongoing crisis. We must engage these two countries. Bangladesh is facing new challenges that has humanitarian, diplomatic and security dimensions. It’s very shocking that Myanmar is on total denial mode. The ferocity of the atrocity on the people is unbelievable. So far the responses from India and China have been very disappointing. This is one of the most complex security and humanitarian situations that Bangladesh has ever faced. We need a firm and united stance to face the crisis.
Myanmar, on the other hand, has gradually forced the world to bow to its unjust position with the help of strong diplomacy. India, which has a husband-wife relationship with Bangladesh, helps Myanmar with submarines and submarine destroyers. Needless to say, this submarine, the torpedo will be used against whom. After hearing the story of building a shelter house in Rakhine, he talked about the repatriation of Rohingyas to Bangladesh, but when he went to Myanmar, it turned into the repatriation of Indian Rohingyas.
The International Crisis Group (ICG) termed this as the most serious escalation in the conflict. Obviously the biggest losers from the escalation and continuation of this conflict will be the two countries directly affected – Myanmar and Bangladesh. The Kofi Annan Commission has painstakingly worked out what international experts say to be a realistic path towards peaceful resolution of a conflict that left to itself may become a dangerous crisis. Myanmar must pay heed to the recommendations of that report.
We are falling prey to Myanmar’s trap by terming ARSA as a terrorist group. By proposing joint operations with Myanmar army we have conceded to the narrative preached by Myanmar and India. Myanmar Army Chief is seeking support from the Rohingyas to eliminate Bengali terrorists and at the same time they are wiping out the whole ethnic community. We need to challenge such kinds of contradictory narratives preached by Myanmar. Myanmar is hard to deal with. Direct communication with Myanmar will not be of much help. Bangladesh should proceed with the help of other countries, particularly the big powers. We have to mobilize support from ASEAN, China, India and Japan.
(Dr. Forqan is former Deputy Director General, Bangladesh Ansar & VDP)
