India has urged the world to help Bangladesh cope with the “humanitarian burden” that was placed upon the country with the influx of a huge number of Rohingyas who have settled in Cox's Bazar.
India has praised Bangladesh's generosity and recognized the economic burden this crisis places upon Bangladesh’s society and economy, according to the Annual Security Outlook 2019 released by Asean.
The report, released during the 26th Asean Regional Forum in Bangkok on August 2, also mentions that India is “deeply conscious” of the humanitarian and security implications Bangladesh is facing due to the presence of Rohingyas.
Bangladesh is now hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas, most of whom entered the country after August 25, 2017 when fleeing the brutal offense launched by Myanmar, targeting the mainly-Muslim ethnic minority.
Though Bangladesh and Myanmar signed a repatriation deal on November 23, 2017, not a single person has so far been repatriated.
India has extended supports through the provision of four large tranches of aid, and also prioritized addressing significant socio-economic challenges in Rakhine State that will facilitate the return of Rohingyas to their place of origin, according to the 206-page report.
India is a leading development partner of Bangladesh and it has extended concessional lines of credit totaling around $8 billion, the report mentions.
The report says India is working closely with the government of Bangladesh to achieve a lasting progress in improving security, energy cooperation, trade, connectivity, and people-to-people ties to provide developmental benefits for the entire region.
The report says the two countries singed a Land Boundary Agreement in 2015 to resolve issues relating to enclaves of adversarial possession of territory.
India and Bangladesh are working together on all fields of cooperation, including military–to–military ties, capacity building, creation of shared energy infrastructure, improved transport links (land, sea, inland waterway and air), and easier movement of people, said the report.
Bordering the North Eastern States of India, the report says, the stability and prosperity of Myanmar is crucial for the regional security.
The report also mentions that India and Myanmar enjoy good bilateral relations and cooperation in security matters between the two countries has substantially improved.
Efforts have been put to improve connectivity, reduce infrastructural gaps and promote development of the region. India is cooperating with Myanmar in diverse fields, including the development of institutions in Myanmar, the report says.