Bangladesh has sought support and necessary steps from the international community to stop the violence so that Myanmar cannot take advantage creating instability in the region and thus avoid the repatriation of the Rohingyas.
“We told them (diplomats) that we seek your (diplomats) help so that Myanmar can’t take advantage creating instability in the region refraining from taking back the Rohingyas,” acting Foreign Secretary Rear Admiral (Retd) Md Khurshed Alam told reporters at state guesthouse Padma on Tuesday.
Director General (South East Asia wing) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Md Najmul Huda was also present.
Referring to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s position, Khurshed said they are working with much patience and tolerance; and Bangladesh did not do anything that might cause Myanmar’s mortar shells landing inside Bangladesh impacting on the life and livelihoods of Bangladeshis.
“This can’t be allowed to continue. We are showing much tolerance and we are not stepping into any provocations from the Myanmar side. We no way want to get involved in it. They (diplomats) appreciated it (Bangladesh position),” he said, adding that Bangladesh does not want to give any chance to avoid the Rohingya repatriation showing any excuse.
Bangladesh conveyed its concerns over possible instability in the region to diplomats stationed in Dhaka – briefing them on the current situation in bordering areas with Myanmar. The briefing lasted for around 30 minutes on Tuesday morning.
The diplomats assured Bangladesh of conveying its concerns to their capitals and help Bangladesh if they have anything to do to raise the issue at the United Nations (UN).
Responding to a question regarding Myanmar blaming the Arakan Army and ARSA for mortar shells landing in Bangladesh, the acting foreign secretary said the Myanmar side always makes the same claims.
Explaining all aspects, Khurshed, also Secretary at Maritime Affairs Unit, ruled out Myanmar’s such claims. “We told them (diplomats) very strongly about our Prime Minister’s zero tolerance to terrorism and Bangladesh never allows anybody to use its land to destabilize the region.”
At the very first time, he said, the Bangladesh side told the Myanmar envoy to take actions so that no mortar shells land in Bangladesh territory.
The acting foreign secretary said Bangladesh is maintaining communication with Myanmar at all levels apart from reaching to the international community so that Myanmar understands that it is dangerous for them and Bangladesh will not accept it.
On Monday, Bangladesh briefed the heads of missions from Southeast Asian countries and apprised them of the prevailing situation at Bangladesh-Myanmar border.
Bangladesh made a similar request to the envoys of ASEAN countries to use their leverage so that mortar shells from Myanmar do not come to Bangladesh side and avoid creating pressure on the people of Bangladesh.
In the two separate briefings, Bangladesh conveyed to the diplomats not a single Rohingya was taken back over the last five years.
Bangladesh is now hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar district and Bhasan Char Island.
The envoys took note of Bangladesh’s concerns and ensured of duly conveying those to their respective capitals.
The acting foreign secretary conveyed Bangladesh’s deep concerns on the recent incidents of mortar shells from Myanmar falling and exploding inside Bangladesh territory, indiscriminate aerial firings, human fatalities and serious injuries, damages to the properties and livelihood of the people in the bordering areas to the ASEAN envoys.
No diplomat representing Myanmar was at the briefing on Monday but diplomats from other ASEAN countries – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam – were present.
On Sunday, Myanmar Ambassador to Bangladesh Aung Kyaw Moe “acknowledged” the firing of multiple mortar shells into Bangladesh territory, but tried to deflect blame by asserting the insurgents they are engaged in fighting were firing heavy artillery and mortars, some of which landed inside Bangladesh territory.
Bangladesh urged Myanmar to refrain from activities that inflict damage to the lives and livelihoods of people, noting that the ongoing situation is creating an atmosphere of “fear” among the innocent people living in the bordering areas with Myanmar.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday summoned the Myanmar envoy for the fourth time since August and lodged a strong protest against the incidents of shelling from Myanmar.
The firing of shells from Myanmar caused human casualties, affecting the safety and security of the people and property inside Bangladesh territory and spreading panic among the residents of the bordering areas.
Ambassador Kyaw Moe was also reminded that the ongoing situation was detrimental to kickstarting the repatriation process of the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals, as the Rohingya refugees are referred to in official communications between the two countries, temporarily sheltered in Bangladesh on humanitarian grounds.
The envoy was told that the government of Myanmar was responsible for maintaining security inside Myanmar, as well as for respecting the sovereign territory and airspace of Bangladesh.
In this connection, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated the zero tolerance policy of the government of Bangladesh on terrorism and non-harboring of any elements hostile to the security of the countries in the region.
