Bangladesh makes diplomatic moves to calm tension

Apart from mobilising reinforcement, Bangladesh is also making diplomatic efforts to calm the tension sparked last week following Myanmar's heavy military build-up in the border areas, said sources.

The foreign ministry has already talked with the Myanmar ambassador in Dhaka while Bangladesh ambassador in Yangon is discussing with the country's government for a peaceful solution of the latest border crisis between the two neighbours, the sources said.

"We want a peaceful solution and discussion is going on in different forums," Home Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder told The Daily Star yesterday. He said Bangladesh as before would try to resolve the current problem through discussions.

He said home ministry would call the Myanmar ambassador in Dhaka within a day or two to discuss the border situation.

Sources in the foreign and home ministries said Bangladesh is also negotiating with China, a close friend of Myanmar, to resolve the crisis.

Asked whether Bangladesh is negotiating with China or any other third party to mediate the matter, the home secretary declined to say anything.

Meanwhile, Chief of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) Maj Gen Mainul Islam is expected to visit Myanmar soon to talk with the country's military authorities about the border situation. He is also likely to have discussions on some other unresolved issues.

"I have proposed a visit to Myanmar by the home ministry to defuse the tension, the directorate general of BDR told The Daily Star.

Asked what actions Bangladesh has taken following the military build-up by Myanmar, the home secretary said the government has no intention to engage in a conflict but put on alert all forces, including the BDR, navy, air force and coastguards.

On the presence of Myanmar military personnel on the border violating international laws, he said Bangladesh objected to the incident urging the country's government not to bring in military on the border.

"Border guards are supposed to be on both sides of the border. But if one country brings in its army on the border it triggers tension," said the home secretary, adding that the Myanmar authorities informed Bangladesh that their military personnel visited the border to see various activities by Nasaka (border force of Myanmar).

He said the government is also in talks with the United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Dhaka, requesting her to persuade the Myanmar authorities so that no more refugees are pushed in.

The foreign ministry officials are tight-lipped about the border crisis. Foreign Minister Dipu Moni termed the military movements in Myanmar territory a routine work.

But some foreign ministry officials, seeking anonymity, confirmed the diplomatic manoeuvring to resolve the crisis peacefully. "You can term it silent diplomacy," said one of the officials.

Myanmar has brought in tanks, artillery and warships indicating a large-scale conflict with Bangladesh. Its forces are repeatedly making bids to push-in Rohingyas. Bangladesh forces remained alert in the bordering areas to thwart such attempts.

MYANMAR REJECTS TROOPS MOBILISATION REPORT

Myanmar government has rejected the reports of military mobilisation along its borders with Bangladesh, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement yesterday, reports BSS.

Myanmar Foreign Minister Nyan Win made the claim after Foreign Minister Dipu Moni met him on the sidelines of an international conference in Colombo.

"No such event has taken place," a Bangladesh foreign office statement quoted him as telling Moni during the meeting on the sidelines of the 8th Ministerial Meeting of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue in the Sri Lankan capital.

Nyan called the actions in frontier as "routine exercise" by their "border security force."

Foreign Minister Dipu Moni had earlier this week dispelled the reports also calling it a "routine move" on their part while Yangon was erecting barbed wire fences within its territory maintaining the international rules.

According to the foreign office statement both the ministers agreed on the need for increased bilateral interactions and frequent consultations at all levels to "dispel any misperception" and also to consolidate and strengthen ties between the two neighbours.

The comments of a top leader of Myanmar came after several Bangladesh and foreign media in the past two weeks reported that Yangon reinforced army troops and continued erecting barbed wire fences in the frontline prompting a counter security alert in Bangladesh side.