Alarming Security Concerns for Bangladesh Amid Arakan’s Continued Unrest

Introduction

Since its independence, Burma (Myanmar) has been plagued by instability and ethnic conflicts, particularly in the Arakan (Rakhine) state, home to two major communities: the Rohingya Muslims and the Rakhine Buddhists. The military-dominated Burmese central government has consistently demonstrated harshness, discrimination, racism, and misuse of power, particularly against people of diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds. This enduring dynamic has left Myanmar entrenched in backwardness, instability, and unrest compared to other nations in the region.

These conditions have placed neighboring Bangladesh in a precarious security position. Myanmar’s military actions, ethnic conflicts, cross-border trafficking, smuggling, and insurgent activities—notably those of the Arakan Army (AA)—have further intensified the crisis. Bangladesh has responded with a humanitarian approach, hosting over a million Rohingya refugees who fled Arakan to escape the junta’s brutal crackdown. However, Myanmar’s ongoing unrest has forced Bangladesh to grapple with significant security, social, and economic challenges. This article underscores the urgent security risks Bangladesh must address.

Risk of Extremism and Radicalization: A Growing Threat

The prolonged displacement of the Rohingya people, spanning multiple generations in camps, has left them in deeply inadequate living conditions. The overcrowded and impoverished camps are breeding grounds for frustration and despair, especially among young people who lack access to education and livelihoods. These conditions make them vulnerable to exploitation by extremist elements. Myanmar’s junta could also covertly manipulate the situation to sow discord among the Rohingya and prevent unified efforts to reclaim their rights. Furthermore, Myanmar has often covertly tarnished the image of the Rohingya to discredit them in host countries worldwide.

Retired Major General A.N.M. Muniruzzaman observes that this displacement and lack of opportunity create “a recipe for potential radicalization.” Transnational militant groups have reportedly identified the Rohingya population as a vulnerable pool for recruitment, exploiting the chaos to lure individuals with promises of empowerment, retribution, or a better future. This exploitation could unintentionally entrap the Rohingya in dangerous activities. Muniruzzaman emphasizes that “radical elements thrive in disorder,” highlighting the need for strengthened monitoring systems and proactive community engagement.

Cross-Border Violence and Diplomatic Strain

Bangladesh faces escalating risks from Myanmar’s internal conflicts throughout its history, as frequent cross-border incidents strain bilateral relations. Clashes between Myanmar’s military and rebel groups often spill into Bangladeshi territory, with stray bullets and artillery shells landing in border areas. Such incursions instill fear among local residents and pose a direct threat to innocent lives. Retired Brigadier General Sakhawat Hossain cautions that “unintended cross-border violence is not only a direct threat to civilian security but also a significant diplomatic challenge with potential long-term repercussions.”

Myanmar’s deployment of landmines along the border adds to these risks, endangering refugees and local communities. Reports of injuries and fatalities, particularly among children, are disturbingly frequent. Experts describe this as a “silent catastrophe,” highlighting the severe human cost and escalating tensions in the region. Additionally, violations of the sanctity of the border by Myanmar troops have become the norm.

Myanmar’s security forces have repeatedly undermined peaceful coexistence between the two nations by engaging in aggressive actions along the border. These include attacks on Bangladeshi border security guards, abductions of Bangladeshi fishermen from within their territorial waters, and theft of property belonging to Bangladeshi citizens. Furthermore, they have consistently violated the no-man’s-land regulations, escalating tensions and straining bilateral relations.

Drug Trafficking and Organized Crime: A Significant Security Threat

Myanmar’s position as one of the world’s largest producers of methamphetamines (commonly referred to as Yaba tablets) poses a grave security risk for Bangladesh. The porous border is exploited for smuggling these drugs, particularly into vulnerable border communities, fueling rising addiction rates and escalating crime. Local law enforcement faces immense challenges in combating the methamphetamine trade, which has grown significantly in recent years.

The broader security implications are alarming. Drug trafficking is intertwined with organized crime, leading to increased violence and straining Bangladesh’s law enforcement resources. Brigadier General Sakhawat Hossain warns, “Narcotics trafficking poses one of the most complex threats to Bangladesh’s security, combining crime, addiction, and economic strain into a dangerous nexus.”

Reports also suggest Myanmar’s security forces are complicit in trafficking activities. The AA, which gains significant income from the illegal drug trade and other illicit activities, has intensified this threat by leveraging its control over border areas.

Human Trafficking Networks: A Critical Security Threat

Human trafficking has emerged as another grave concern along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, exploiting the vulnerability of Rohingya refugees. Criminal networks prey on desperate individuals, particularly women and children, luring them with false promises only to subject them to forced labor and exploitation. Security experts emphasize that these operations involve sophisticated transnational criminal networks.

Major General A.N.M. Muniruzzaman warns, “The human trafficking networks operating across the Bangladesh-Myanmar border are an affront to human dignity and a direct threat to social stability.” Reports suggest that Myanmar’s border guards facilitate trafficking operations, coercing Rohingya onto smuggler boats to drive them further from their homeland. This not only worsens the refugee crisis but also heightens regional instability. By enabling such irresponsible activities, Myanmar’s actions have victimized not only Bangladesh but also other nations such as Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand.

Insurgent Alliances and Cross-Border Militancy: A Growing Security Concern

The AA’s control over border areas raises serious concerns about potential alliances with insurgent and separatist groups in Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts (e.g., Shanti Bahini). Such alliances could increase cross-border militant activities and arms smuggling, destabilizing Bangladesh’s internal security. Brigadier General M. Sakhawat Hossain warns that “an influx of weapons into Bangladesh would not only jeopardize border security but also destabilize internal peace.”

Insurgent members holding dual citizenship and maintaining networks on both sides of the border further complicated efforts to address this threat. The interplay of these factors presents a multidimensional security risk that could undermine regional stability. Many members of these groups have reportedly settled in remote areas on both sides of the border, especially after the Rohingya people were forcibly displaced under gun threats and death threats.

Diplomatic Stalemate and Regional Isolation

Bangladesh’s efforts to resolve the Rohingya crisis through diplomatic channels have faced consistent resistance from Myanmar. Despite repeated attempts, Myanmar refuses to take responsibility or facilitate the safe repatriation of the Rohingya. Major General Emdadul Islam warns, “The diplomatic deadlock not only restricts Bangladesh’s options but fosters a sense of isolation amidst an escalating humanitarian emergency.”

Myanmar’s strategic alliances with influential powers, including China, India, and Russia, complicate global intervention. These alliances reduce the urgency for international action, leaving Bangladesh to shoulder the burden. Retired Major General A.N.M. Muniruzzaman stresses that “Bangladesh faces the danger of diplomatic isolation as Myanmar’s allies delay decisive international action, further entrenching the crisis.”

Refugee Influx and Humanitarian Strain

The influx of Rohingya refugees has overwhelmed Bangladesh’s infrastructure, social services, and public utilities, particularly in Cox’s Bazar. Facilities originally designed for local populations are now overstretched, fueling tensions between refugees and host communities. The strain on resources, compounded by rising drug trafficking, human trafficking, and cross-border violence, creates an economic burden that grows heavier daily.

Bangladesh’s reliance on international aid adds another layer of vulnerability. A reduction or delay in this aid could lead to both a humanitarian and security crisis with far-reaching consequences.

Environmental and Economic Strain

The environmental impact of hosting refugees has been severe. Forests in Cox’s Bazar have been cleared to accommodate camps, leading to deforestation, soil erosion, and water scarcity. These challenges disrupt local agriculture and fisheries, critical to the livelihoods of nearby communities, exacerbating tensions and social instability.

Major General A.N.M. Muniruzzaman highlights that “ecological damage caused by this crisis has cascading effects, impacting food security, public health, and broader economic stability.” Sustainable resource management and international collaboration are crucial to mitigate these long-term risks.

Lack of Accountability for Myanmar’s Actions

The absence of meaningful international sanctions against Myanmar has emboldened its military and government to persist in their aggressive policies, disregarding human rights and border safety, and directly threatening Bangladesh’s security. Major General Emdadul Islam underscores that “a unified international response is critical to ensure Myanmar faces consequences for its actions.” Furthermore, Myanmar’s repeated allegations that the Rohingya are Bengalis not only deepen the oppression of the Rohingya but also directly challenge Bangladesh’s sovereignty and security.

These accusations suggest that Myanmar has no genuine intention of resolving the crisis. Instead, it appears to be deliberately prolonging the conflict, with the aim of driving the remaining Rohingya population into Bangladesh—an agenda seemingly shared by both the Myanmar government and the Arakan Army (AA).

Conclusion: A Volatile Path Ahead

The convergence of challenges—extremism, cross-border violence, trafficking, strained diplomacy, environmental degradation, and geopolitical complexities—has created a highly volatile situation for Bangladesh. The Rohingya crisis has placed immense pressure on the nation, stretching resources to their limits and testing its resilience. Without decisive international action, enhanced regional cooperation, and a robust, comprehensive national policy on border security and crisis management, the crisis risks further destabilizing Bangladesh, with serious implications for its security and future. (some recommended suggestions to consider in the next article)

Endnotes

1. Major General A.N.M. Muniruzzaman’s analysis of the radicalization risks among the Rohingya can be found in various policy briefs and discussions hosted by the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS). For more details, see BIPSS publications: www.bipss.org.bd.
2. Retired Brigadier General Sakhawat Hossain’s insights into cross-border violence and diplomatic strain have been quoted in The Daily Star articles on regional security. See: The Daily Star archive, www.thedailystar.net.
3. Reports on the role of Myanmar in methamphetamine trafficking, particularly Yaba tablets, are extensively documented by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Refer to UNODC’s Synthetic Drugs in East and Southeast Asia report, 2023: www.unodc.org.
4. Human trafficking concerns and the facilitation by Myanmar’s border guards are documented by Human Rights Watch (HRW) in their 2023 report on Rohingya exploitation. See HRW: www.hrw.org.
5. Environmental degradation in Cox’s Bazar due to the refugee crisis is highlighted in International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) reports on deforestation and habitat loss. For more, visit: www.iucn.org.
6. Myanmar’s accusations labeling the Rohingya as “Bengalis” and its implications on Bangladesh’s sovereignty are analyzed in Amnesty International’s report on the Myanmar crisis. Find the full report here: www.amnesty.org.
7. For insights into the geopolitical dimensions of Myanmar’s alliances with China, India, and Russia, see the International Crisis Group’s analysis of regional politics: www.crisisgroup.org.

Author Bio : Farid Abu Ahmed, Independent writer from Malaysia (Farid_dcb@yahoo.com)

* This represents the writer’s own opinion only it doesn’t necessarily reflect organizational stance.*

*This Article has been published on NewAge Bangladesh*