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Why Myanmar, Bangladesh seek close friendship through military diplomacy?

by Rinku Khumukcham
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By: Samina Akhter
After mortars landed in Bangladesh’s soil as Myanmar military attacks against the Arakan Army (AA) in Rakhine State, officials from Bangladesh and Myanmar’s junta promised to mend bilateral ties.
The north-westeern Rakhine region in Myanmar, which borders Bangladesh, has seen a number of airspace violations over the past few months as border guards there have fought local militants.
In the meeting at Cox Bazar between the Bangladesh’s Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) and Myanmar Border Guard Police (BGP) on Oct 30,
Myanmar border guards have apologized to their counterparts in Bangladesh for these events and promised that airspace violation will not reoccur.
The meeting follows Bangladesh strong protests against the violation of airspace and the landing of shells inside Bangladeshi territory. 
Despite so, Myanmar’s BGP team’s leader, Col Ye Wai Soe still lamented that Bangladesh is now sheltering members of Myanmar’s separatist groups who have crossed the border and are committing crimes there.
In a fresh turn of events, Bangladesh and Myanmar militaries decide to warm the tie. The meeting leads to more discussion and of course, more plan on cooperation —such as joint-border patrolling, exchanged information and enhancing more military cooperation.
Above all, both sides also discuss the prompt repatriation of the Rohingyas —the issue that Lahor has asked for the past few years.
Approximately 750,000 Rohingyas fled to Bangladesh in 2017 as a result of a military crackdown on them, and this occurred more than five years later. Not one Rohingya traveled back to Myanmar.
The turn of event reflects the inevitable geopolitics and bi-lateral diplomacy of Bangladesh and Myanmar.
Despite spats over border issue, it is undeniable that both countries have had a long-standing relationship, shared history dating back generations.
In terms of geopolitics, the 271-kilometer Bangladesh-Myanmar border is strategically significant for Bangladesh, despite the fact that it is militarized due to Myanmar’s continuous internal strife. Bangladesh might establish routes through Myanmar to access China to the east and other Southeast Asian countries to the south if this issue is resolved.
Relations between Bangladesh and Myanmar were formalized on January 13, 1972.   However, due to the presence of several unresolved issues such as Rohingya refugees and maritime border demarcation, the scene has changed in an unfavorable way, and ties between these two neighbors have not always been as friendly as envisioned.
Apart from India, Myanmar is the only other country on Bangladesh’s border.  Therefore, the Myanmar is perceived as Bangladesh’s strategic benefits as a land-bridge to China and Southeast Asia countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. 
Myanmar is also a country with abundant natural resources. Myanmar’s forests and natural resources, such as gas, oil, and stones. From economic spectrum, maintaining good relations with Myanmar is more in Bangladesh’s interest for reasons of national security.
It is feared that the acrimonious bi-lateral relationship can pose threat to national security threat to Bangladesh and Myanmar.  Without close collaborations, human trafficking, narcotics as well as cyberthreat will only thrive. 
To address certain common bilateral concerns, what expects to happen is military trainings. It is hoped that these joint-military resources can take part in UN peacekeeping operation (UNPKO) and disaster management cooperation.
Improved military ties between Bangladesh and Myanmar can aid in the smoothing of ties and the resolution of long-standing issues such as the Rohingya crisis, maritime disputes, and border-related trans-border crimes Both forces from Myanmar and Bangladesh.
This military collaboration is expected to be the prelude to more collaborations between Nay Pyi Taw and Dhaka such as medical cooperation, sports events, adventure activities and tourism. 
Also high on agenda is the Tatmadaw and Bangladesh military may collaborate on disaster management systems. Natural disaster has become a major threat in Bay of Bengal.  For instance, Sitrang Cyclone last month severely affected communities in India and Bangladesh while Cyclone Nargis in 2008 brought Myanmar to its knee, forcing the junta government at that time to open country and accept help from ASEAN’s disaster management’s task forces.  Bangladesh, India, Myanmar could work together. Both Myanmar and Bangladesh have several opportunities to work in order to lessen the risk of environmental degradation and loss.
While Myanmar is alienated and grew inward, relationship between Nay Pyi Taw and Dhaka reflects the necessity and inevitability of two neighbor countries that share physical geography, culture and long history.
The most effective strategy to progress together and maintain a peaceful relationship is to talk and enhance people-to-people connection between two sovereign countries. This is especially essential when the countries in question are neighbors. 
(The author is a Dhaka, Bangladesh based author and columnist)

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