Bangladesh – Myanmar Relation in the Chnaged Political Perspective
BANGLADESH – MYANMAR RELATION IN THE CHNAGED POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE
INTRODUCTION
1. Bangladesh and Myanmar are the two geographically contiguous developing countries. These two countries share a good deal of history, geography, culture and politics of both colonial and postcolonial perspectives. Following the establishment of diplomatic relations between two countries, bilateral ties grow on the basis of their commonalities of interest. Bangladesh and Myanmar enjoyed a dynamic process of bilateral cooperation since independence of Bangladesh. In addition to bilateral cooperation, the two countries are also veloping cooperative relations under the framework of a number of regional/sub-regional organizations/initiatives. Notwithstanding persistence efforts on the part of both the countries, the process of Bangladesh-Myanmar relations have also been, at times, overshadowed by contentious issues particularly by the Rohingya issue that from time to time vitiated the relations between the two countries. Again the land boundary between Bangladesh and Myanmar are demarcated, the two countries share a vast maritime boundary that is demarcated recently. The landmark verdict at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) in Hamburg established legal territorial rights of Bangladesh in the Bay of Bengal.
2. Recent political reform, limited democratic culture and espcially bi-election before the general election 2015 shed the new ray of hope for the people of Myanmar. Furthermore, USA has lifted its economic embargo on Myanmar and planned to open its ambassy there. An alternative land route opening for Bangladesh towards China and South East Asia other than the sea will create a greater impact on our economy as well as can be termed as the gateway for south east Asia. On the other hand unfriendly relations with Myanmar can benefit small insurgent groups living in the hill jungle areas of southern portion of Chittagong Hill Tracts which can cause some
INTRODUCTION
1. Bangladesh and Myanmar are the two geographically contiguous developing countries. These two countries share a good deal of history, geography, culture and politics of both colonial and postcolonial perspectives. Following the establishment of diplomatic relations between two countries, bilateral ties grow on the basis of their commonalities of interest. Bangladesh and Myanmar enjoyed a dynamic process of bilateral cooperation since independence of Bangladesh. In addition to bilateral cooperation, the two countries are also veloping cooperative relations under the framework of a number of regional/sub-regional organizations/initiatives. Notwithstanding persistence efforts on the part of both the countries, the process of Bangladesh-Myanmar relations have also been, at times, overshadowed by contentious issues particularly by the Rohingya issue that from time to time vitiated the relations between the two countries. Again the land boundary between Bangladesh and Myanmar are demarcated, the two countries share a vast maritime boundary that is demarcated recently. The landmark verdict at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) in Hamburg established legal territorial rights of Bangladesh in the Bay of Bengal.
2. Recent political reform, limited democratic culture and espcially bi-election before the general election 2015 shed the new ray of hope for the people of Myanmar. Furthermore, USA has lifted its economic embargo on Myanmar and planned to open its ambassy there. An alternative land route opening for Bangladesh towards China and South East Asia other than the sea will create a greater impact on our economy as well as can be termed as the gateway for south east Asia. On the other hand unfriendly relations with Myanmar can benefit small insurgent groups living in the hill jungle areas of southern portion of Chittagong Hill Tracts which can cause some