Myanmar's recent spates of violence along its border with Bangladesh is directly affecting our people and it is, simply put, inexcusable.
The recent news of a Bangladeshi fisherman getting shot as Myanmar's border guards opened fire at the Teknaf border of Cox's Bazar is yet another startling reminder of their government's flagrant disregard for accountability and consequences.
Myanmar's relentless use of force and violence along our border in its efforts to quash rebel forces and separatists, through the use of indiscriminate aerial firing and mortar shelling, has resulted in far too much collateral damage to Bangladeshis for us to not notice anymore.
In light of Myanmar's brutal persecution ofn its Rohingya minorities which resulted in over a million Rohingya finding shelter in Bangladesh, this situation is not only unfair but insulting as well. But, then again, one can hardly expect restraint from a nation that sees no wrong in committing genocide against its own people.
What the Rohingya continue to go through can only be described as one of the greatest injustices ever faced by an ethnic group. And while talks of repatriation some years ago was a matter of great hope for the over million persecuted refugees strewn about camps in Bangladesh, the lack of any real effort on the part of Myanmar has resulted in very little tangible results.
It is clear as day that the Myanmar government only understands one language: Force. And the only way to stop them from their genocidal ways is for any nation still maintaining formal relations with Myanmar to exert as much pressure as possible, ideally in the form of strict sanctions.
The time for mealy-mouthed pleas to a state utterly bent on the destruction of their own people has long since passed. The world needs to wake up and call a spade for what it is.