Editorial: Solutions to Arakan-Bangladesh Border Issues Lie With AA

By Admin 24 Dec 2024

Earlier this month, the Myanmar regime's Border Guard Police Battalion No. 5 - the last standing junta battalion in besieged Maungdaw, Arakan State - fell to the Arakkha Army (AA).

The AA also seized control of Ann Township in December, including most consequentially the Myanmar military's Western Command headquarters; location of the largest military garrison in Arakan State.

All told, the AA has captured 14 townships including 13 in Arakan State and Paletwa Township in neighbouring Chin State since the latest fighting with the Myanmar military began in November 2023. It is widely expected that Gwa will be the next township to fall into the hands of the AA.

The Arakan People's Government, as the governing entity under the auspices of the Arakkha Army/United League of Arakan (AA/ULA) is know, is already providing public services such as administration, justice, healthcare, education, municipal services, humanitarian assistance, and natural disaster response in the townships controlled by the AA. But Bangladesh's Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain said during an informal consultation held in Thailand on December 19 that Bangladesh cannot engage in negotiations with non-state actors such as the AA over control of the border.

There are concerns that Touhid Hossain's comments will have an impact on the issues that need to be resolved between the Arakan People's Government and the Bangladeshi government, such as firming up economic ties between between Arakan State and Bangladesh, and the repatriation of hundreds of thousands of Muslim refugees from Arakan State currently living in Bangladesh.

It is unlikely that Myanmar's military regime, which is losing town after town in Arakan State, has a shot at regaining control of the Arakan-Bangladesh border any time soon, something that Touhid Hossain's remarks seem not to acknowledge.

The military regime is currently planning to export goods through Sittwe and Yangon ports, as it is no longer able to export to Bangladesh through Maungdaw. As Bangladesh and Arakan State share a border, the border trade plays an important role in the local economy and beyond.

In the fiscal year 2022-23, Bangladesh imported nearly 200,000 tonnes of goods from Myanmar, while Bangladesh exported about 3,500 tonnes, according to Bangladeshi media, citing the Bangladesh Land Port Authority.

The recent arrival at Teknaf port of rice exported from the AA-controlled port in Maungdaw is a likely sign of things to come. With the shipment accompanied by documents sealed and signed by the Arakan People's Government, it is hoped that authorities in Bangladesh will accept the shipment and work to formalise a trading relationship that is beneficial to both Bangladesh and the people of Arakan State.

The international community, meanwhile, can and should play a part in advocating for a normalisation of AA/ULA-Bangladesh relations, as the safe, dignified, voluntary and sustainable repatriation of Muslim refugees has long been a topic of discussion at international fora. With the war in Arakan State now decisively tipped in the AA's favour, it is clear that the ethnic armed group must be part of any repatriation process, any economic recovery for Arakan State, and any future for its people.