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.
I think this is the final stage of the long-drawn Myanmar policy of clearing Arakan of Rohingyas. This policy was devised during the Ne Win regime in 1962 that culminated in the formulation of 1982 Citizenship Act. In Myanmar there is also a myth that Bangladesh aspires to carve out a territory in Rakhine and the Rohingyas will play a quisling role in helping Bangladesh. We have been seeing the manifestation of these policies since 1978, and the latest influx of Rohingyas into Bangladesh is the worst human tragedy we are experiencing. More than three-fourth of the Rohingya population of 1.2 million have fled to Bangladesh over the last forty years. If that has been so are we less than pro-active in formulating a policy on Rohingya and Myanmar? From both military and diplomatic point of view, we have long taken Myanmar as granted. We have not followed a coherent strategy that demonstrates a very well-thought-out cogent policy on our part.
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. However, we are disheartened with what Modi said during his visit to Myanmar. China is the only country which has influence over the Myanmar military. Unless we can bring to bear on the Myanmar military a strong pressure, this problem is not likely to be resolved anytime soon.
We should focus on and internationalise the issues of atrocities and brutalities against the Rohingya people. Otherwise, those people will not return to Myanmar.
Not registering all Rohingya refugees who entered Bangladesh over the last few weeks was a mistake. Without registering them, we will not be able to tell the international community about the influx. I welcome the government's latest step to keep the refugees in a certain area of Cox's Bazar.!
To be continued............
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