St Martin's Island seen vulnerable

M Abul Kalam Azad

Bangladesh Rifles authorities have identified the St Martin's Island as the probable main target of Myanmar and asked the government to immediately strengthen its defence by constructing aircraft landing zones and concrete bunkers.

In a strategic proposal that came in the wake of constant military build-up and intimidation by Myanmar, the BDR has also urged the government to increase defence capability of land and sea borders to repulse any possible aggression by the neighbouring country.

Marking 148km stretch of border with Myanmar and India as unguarded, the border force has suggested setting up temporary frontier camps until a new battalion is set up in Ali Kadam area as per the BDR restructuring proposal.

To safeguard the country's territorial sovereignty, the BDR has sorted out short-, mid- and long-term measures.

It has requested the government to arm the paramilitary force with more manpower and modern military equipment.

The St Martin's Island, the only coral island of the country and the main attraction for local and foreign tourists for its panoramic beauty and pristine marine life, is under the jurisdiction of the Coastguards. The island, which is located in a mineral rich region in the Bay of Bengal, is just about 8km west of the northwest coast of Myanmar.

The BDR has submitted its proposal to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Prime Minister's Office, the navy and air force headquarters and the director general of Coastguards.

The proposal says Myanmar military often crosses the zero line at the Bandarban frontier and carry out operations to combat various separatist organisations. Apart from erecting barbed-wire fences and mobilising army unilaterally, the Myanmar authorities are forcing their nationals to enter Bangladesh territory.

The BDR has suggested designating responsibilities and areas of jurisdiction of the Coastguards and BDR and making intelligence activities of various agencies faster and stronger.

A senior home ministry official yesterday said the Prime Minister's Office is dealing with the "very sensitive and serious matter".

As short-term plans the BDR has suggested increasing and strengthening overall border patrol to prevent Myanmar nationals or groups from entering Bangladesh territory. It has also recommended identifying the routes of refugees and deploying additional patrol teams.

For quick evaluation of the situation and making decisions, the BDR has suggested incorporating army officers in the existing border outposts along the border with Myanmar.

The other suggestions include reinforcement of police personnel in the bordering Ukhiya and Teknaf upazilas and additional police patrol on the Cox's Bazar-Teknaf Highway, and involving locals including lawmakers, elites, upazila chairmen and members to build awareness against push-in of Rohingya refugees.

"Stern actions should be taken against locals who help refugees come and stay in Bangladesh," says the proposal.

The BDR has suggested erecting barbed-wire fences along the border as a mid-term measure.

The proposed long-term measures include signing an agreement with Myanmar on border security like the 1975 agreement with India, accelerating diplomatic efforts to put pressure on the Myanmar government to resolve the Rohingya crisis and construction of ring roads between border outposts and camps.

To tackle the current tension on the border with Myanmar, the BDR authorities have urged the government to allocate necessary budget for immediate implementation of the short-term plans.

Prof Imtiaz Ahmed of international relations department of Dhaka University said Myanmar is an "isolated state that has minimum links with the international community and has been ruled by military for 20 years".

"Such a country can do anything anytime and Bangladesh should have all kinds of preparations," he said.

"Little diplomatic and political attention has been paid to Myanmar so far. After the BDR proposals, it seems that serious attention is now being paid to Myanmar," said Imtiaz.