B'desh steps up troops deployment on Myanmar border amid row

[eastwatch]

Is it correct that Rohingyas are Bengalis? That is news to me. How did they get to be in Myanmar?

Rohingya people have been living in Rakhaine or Arakan Province for many centuries. They are Muslims and many of the ancestors of these people and Chittagonian Muslims came from Arabia, probably from today's Qatar. Arakan was an independent Budhist kingdom, whose sovereign was ousted by his younger brother sometime in the mid 14th century.

The expelled King came to the Court of Gaud (Bengal) Sultan and after about 15 years, the Sultan sent him back to Arakan with more than 10,000 Muslim troops of Bengal. He was restored to his throne, but the troops went there brought their families and started to live there. So, the Arab traders and Bangali Muslims became the core of this group of people. You can include Chittagong region also as a part of the then Arakan Kingdom.

Their language is as has been elaborated by khatib. You have to understand that Chittagong language is not intelligible for people from other parts of Bengal unless a person lives there for a certain period of time. I personally understand (70&#37 of the Chittagong dialect, but when I meet a Rohingya, I cannot understand his language. However, the Chittagonian and Rohingyas can understand each other's dialect.

Rohingyas are certainly our people, but have been living in Arakan for centuries, and before Arakan was made a Province of Burma. Arakan is a part of Burma and not of Bengal, is due to the British stupidity. Since it was difficult for the British to rule this area from Calcutta, the Capital of the Presidency of Bengal, they just cut this part and included it in Burma.

Legally, Arakan is a part of Bengal and the Rohingyas are Bangali. However, although their spoken language is near the Chittagong dialect, but they do not read or write Bangla. Instead, they learn to read, write and speak Arabic. This may be one reason that they come to BD, take BD Passports and easily get jobs in the Arab countries.

Anyway, they are certainly our people. And I think, regardless of their religion, they should also be taken care of equally by BD, India and also Pakistan. Now, they have become BD responsibility only. Unofficial reports say, there are more than 500,000 Rohingyas in BD. They just manage to leave the refugee camps and work in the Cities. They are our look-alike people, Police can not trace them out.

 

[leonblack08]

Myanmar Border
Bangladesh makes diplomatic moves to calm tension
M Abul Kalam Azad
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.

The Daily Star - Details News

 

[leonblack08]

This is good move.Solve it diplomatically,but at the same time keep the military on alert.This is the right approach when dealing with "wannabe Hitler".
Also good to see China is being dragged to solve the problem.

 

[TopCat]

Rohingya people have been living in Rakhaine or Arakan Province for many centuries. They are Muslims and many of the ancestors of these people and Chittagonian Muslims came from Arabia, probably from today's Qatar. Arakan was an independent Budhist kingdom, whose sovereign was ousted by his younger brother sometime in the mid 14th century.

The expelled King came to the Court of Gaud (Bengal) Sultan and after about 15 years, the Sultan sent him back to Arakan with more than 10,000 Muslim troops of Bengal. He was restored to his throne, but the troops went there brought their families and started to live there. So, the Arab traders and Bangali Muslims became the core of this group of people. You can include Chittagong region also as a part of the then Arakan Kingdom.

Their language is as has been elaborated by khatib. You have to understand that Chittagong language is not intelligible for people from other parts of Bengal unless a person lives there for a certain period of time. I personally understand (70%) of the Chittagong dialect, but when I meet a Rohingya, I cannot understand his language. However, the Chittagonian and Rohingyas can understand each other's dialect.

Rohingyas are certainly our people, but have been living in Arakan for centries, and before Arakan was made a Province of Burma. Arakan is a part of Burma and not of Bengal, is due to the British stupidity. Since it was difficult for the British to rule this area from Calcutta, the Capital of the Presidency of Bengal, they just cut this part and included it in Burma.

Legally, Arakan is a part of Bengal and the Rohingyas are Bangali. However, although their spoken language is near the Chittagong dialect, but they do not read or write Bangla. Instead, they learn to read, write and speak Arabic. This may be one reason that they come to BD, take BD Passports and easily get jobs in the Arab countries.

Anyway, they are certainly our people. And I think, regardless of their religion, they should also be taken care of equally by BD, India and also Pakistan. Now, they have become BD responsibility only. Unofficial reports say, there are more than 500,000 Rohingyas in BD. They just manage to leave the refugee camps and work in the Cities. They are our look-alike people, Police can not trace them out.

By taking over Arakan will solve two problems. First Burmese will be permanently barred from Bay-Of-Bengal. Second Rohingyas could get to start learning their own mother tongue.

 

[eastwatch]

Myanmar FM denies troops build-up :: Bangladesh :: bdnews24.com ::

Myanmar FM denies troops build-up
Fri, Oct 16th, 2009 7:38 pm BdST

Dhaka, Oct 16 (bdnews24.com)--Myanmar foreign minister Nyan Win has said his country had not mobilised troops along Bangladesh border, the foreign ministry said in a media release on Friday.

During his meeting with foreign minister Dipu Moni, Win said Myanmar border security force was in "regular" exercise in the border.

Dipu Moni, now in Colombo, met her Myanmar counterpart on the sidelines of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue on Thursday.

"Regarding recent media reporting on troops movement along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, the Myanmar Foreign Minister stated that no such event has taken place and these were routine exercise by their border security force," said the press statement.

During the last couple of days, Bangladesh media reported from the frontier that Myanmar's border guards backed by the military were making provocative movements over construction of barbed-wire fence.

Bangladesh's also puts its paramilitary BDR on alert, the reports say.

But foreign minister Dipu Moni earlier said Myanmar had not made military build-up along the border.

Moni, according to the statement, requested Win to give Bangladeshi businessmen visa for 30 days instead of 14 days.

"During the talks, Bangladesh foreign minister proposed joint-venture projects for generation of hydro-electricity and production of fertilizer from gas imported from Myanmar," said the statement.

Moni raised the issue of resolving the Rohingya problem.

Both the ministers underlined the need for increasing bilateral interactions to consolidate and strengthen relations between the two countries.

"In this context, they stressed the need for frequent consultations between the two sides at all levels to dispel any misperception on either side," the statement added.

She also saw India's state minister for external affairs Preneet Kaur.

"She (Dipu Moni) emphasized the early commencement of bilateral talks on the sharing of waters of Teesta River.

On the maritime boundary delimitation issue, the foreign minister stressed that Bangladesh wishes to continue negotiations with India bilaterally as a parallel process to the UN arbitration.

The foreign minister also met Iranian foreign minister Manoucher Mottaki.

 

[Fennecus]

Peace is precious.

Make it last.

 

[leonblack08]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

As if we are that dumb,that we can't even differentiate between troop build up and routine exercise.

 

[eastwatch]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

As if we are that dumb,that we can't even differentiate between troop build up and routine exercise.

It is always a routine that whenever troops of a country are out of cantonment and near a border, the nearby country will not remain complacent thinking nothing will happen. The generals of the neighbouring country will certainly reciprocate the movement. It happens also when an army starts a military exercise.

The generals are always taught to act in that way. So, even if the Burmese troops are in the border on a sightseeing trip, BD military will certainly move out its troops. I think, whatever our little Dipu Moni says and whatever the political people directs the generals, they will not withdraw BD troops until Burma shows a very clear sign of withdrawing their troops.

 

[Patriot]

Absolutely.Operation Brasstrack almost got Pakistan and India into war.

Operation Brasstacks was a military exercise undertaken by the Indian Army in Rajasthan during November 1986 and March 1987. It was one of the largest mobilizations of armed forces in the Indian subcontinent. Many regard this as one of the most critical points in the relationship between India and Pakistan with regard to nuclear war. The exercise's magnitude and closeness to the border caused a situation where a war between India Pakistan looked imminent. There is still a considerable debate regarding the purpose of the exercise as many believe that India was preparing for a war against Pakistan.

Operation Brasstacks - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[TopCat]

Absolutely.Operation Brasstrack almost got Pakistan and India into war.

Operation Brasstacks - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

That was a long A$$ military exercise. Never heard 6 mos long exercise before.


When is Uncle Sam coming in the Bay? Nov 20 right?

 

[idune]

May I ask for more explanation to your few points above?

1. If Burma gets the maritime territory, how would India be benefitted from that? Will they just simply give us once we ask?

If Bangladesh has to get engaged with Myanmar militarily then Bangladesh will be in weaker position and india will have much easier way to impose its might to occupy Bangladesh maritime territory permanently. Besides, india is the one instigated Myanmar to create and adopt this confrontational stand. Since you can not comprehend such simple flow that begs the question, are you ready to engage in such discussion?

2. You are making it look like if this war happens and if Burma wins then BD will simply be erased from map

This is your statement not mine; a typical indian habit of labeling their statement as others. But the way whole game (not just Myanmar escalation) plan staged mostly by india, sovereignty of Bangladesh as a truly independent country is at stake. But you would find some who would accept submission to india using "taskforce", "connectivity"
"win-win" etc.

 

[raihan.iiuc]

I get Information about the last condition of Banngladesh - Mayan mar border at 11.00 o' clock.....from my cousin in Nainkachori,......

Bangladesh Army moved on from Comilla cantornment today morning....Also chittagong cantornment......They are go cox-bazr, gum-gum border, teknaf, nainkachori......

from comilla cantornment a artilary rgiment go there and from chittagong cantornment a infanty regiment......

Otherwise In cox-bazar Garison cantornment have 4150 soilders are decorated by Morter, Masinegun ,Smg, Lmg, AK-47, .30mm Masine gun....200 miles range missile, & canon etc....

All people of chittagong are feel uneasy & tesion.....

Cause Today Bangladesh Rifels Moved 2 thousands soilders from HALISHAR ......

Also Air force Ready their fighter & copter in Patenga & coxbazar....

Perhaps Naval force Moved 3 Frigates in near myanmar......

Secrect agent of bangladesh army doing their own duty in their place......

Some secrect agent of mayanmar army are entry the area of bangladesh last nigt.......So Garison cantorment moved gum-gum border a special force to attack the mayanmar secrect agent.....

All information collect from 2 secrect agent of DGFI & people of Border area......

 

[Iggy]

If Bangladesh has to get engaged with Myanmar militarily then Bangladesh will be in weaker position and india will have much easier way to impose its might to occupy Bangladesh maritime territory permanently. Besides, india is the one instigated Myanmar to create and adopt this confrontational stand. Since you can not comprehend such simple flow that begs the question, are you ready to engage in such discussion?

Yea right like now you have a world class navy to fight us..come on guy write some thing take make sense??you are making a comedian out of your self


This is your statement not mine; a typical indian habit of labeling their statement as others. But the way whole game (not just Myanmar escalation) plan staged mostly by india, sovereignty of Bangladesh as a truly independent country is at stake. But you would find some who would accept submission to india using "taskforce", "connectivity"
"win-win" etc.

Can you provide we with any proof??? that the whole thing is staged by India?YOU ARE IMAGINING SOME THING AND BELIEVE THAT ITS TRUE..I feel sorry for you my friend..and also i am wondering what will be your next theary..I am sure that you will have plenty of it.cant wait to see all that

 

[M_Saint]

By taking over Arakan will solve two problems. First Burmese will be permanently barred from Bay-Of-Bengal. Second Rohingyas could get to start learning their own mother tongue.

BRO

I thought that you were a Bengali-Nationalist-Mullah but lately found out that you were buoyed war mongering star too (Expecting curse to my shyte out) along with buddy boy EA/WE/SO/NO Watch. Were you in weeds or Cialis brother that transformed your Bengali-Gene?

Now, leaving sarcasm aside, I wanted ask if you were watching the surrounding developments like Pakistani army's decision to go after SWAies and gold rise, dollar devaluation etc? Please amalgamate them with BD-Burma war-like-scenario to find out how the situation is shaping out for our Asian, especially the south-hemispherian to become an inferno. And making people, countrymen aware about dooms day don't equate with baffonaries, cowardice; does it? So, please stop being a war monger or if you are so for it then take a gun fight it yourself to save my poor bother's lives.

 

[HK-47]

When is Uncle Sam coming in the Bay? Nov 20 right?

I think so.Exercise Tiger or whatever.Look we deserved to be helped.Reason:we send a lot of our best students(some of them cream of the society types) to the US and they benefit from it.They owe us something.Plain and simple.
and Uncle Sam loves democracy and liberated women right?

Nasaka abducts 7 Bangladeshi fishermen
A Correspondent, Cox's Bazar

Members of Nasaka, the border security force of Myanmar, kidnapped seven Bangladeshi fishermen and took away their boat from the Naf River at Teknaf of Cox's Bazar.

The abducted are Md Alam, 22, and Monir Ahmed, 30, sons of Sona Ali of Pallan Para village, Abdur Razzaq, son of Abdul Hossain, Karim Ullah, 25, son of Abdus Sukkur, Hamid Hossain, 30, son of Abul Bashar, Hafez Ahmed, 40, son of Noor Muhammad, and Nozim Ullah, 22, son of Shamsul Alam of the same village.

Four other fishermen Ismail, 32, Jakaria, 20, Noor Kabir, 25, Kamal, 25, jumped into the river and swam to the shore. Returning home they informed the families and BDR about the abduction.

They said they were fishing within the Bangladesh boundary on Thursday at around 11:00pm. The Nasaka members by an engine boat turned up and kidnapped the fishermen at gunpoint.

Family members of the abducted fishermen yesterday morning informed the BDR authorities about the kidnapping incident.

Lieutenant Colonel Muzammel Hossain, commander of Teknaf 42 Rifles Battalion, said they came to know about the incident through an application submitted by the fishermen.

“We will send a letter to the Nasaka to send back the fishermen, ” he said.

This is a thorn to our society.Instead of being pro-active we are reactionary.

BTW is there any maps showing the entire border area with Myanmar or at least the district maps?A one of the Naf river would be helpful.
source:www.thedailystar.net

This is good move.Solve it diplomatically,but at the same time keep the military on alert.This is the right approach when dealing with "wannabe Hitler".
Also good to see China is being dragged to solve the problem.

Leon bro ,diplomacy is good and everything,but personally I think as a nation we lack balls and insight needed to maintain powerful military and security services to safeguard the nation.All we can do is negotiate;instead of sending powerful/tough messages.Instead of relying on third parties we should equip ourselves well first.

I don't want the Burmese kicking our ***** but look what the Chinese victory of 1962 did to India.

our greatest asset:we have a huge population.It's also time we made use of our CHT indigenous people;this will bring us closer.