When they came in their droves, crossing tortuous foot roads and swimming vast rivers, Bangladesh had little options or preparedness to deal with the Rohingya influx. The use of force was anathema to the Bengali psyche. The hilly districts begrudgingly gave up space for makeshift camps with their worst fears soon becoming all-engulfing.
People from neighbouring borders in Southeast Asia ran by their own rules in the absence of any real support from their respective governments. Myanmar, better known as the drug shipment conduit of the infamous Golden Triangle, forced out more than a million-plus from their own population and sent with them the mobile units that continue peddling drugs in open defiance of whatever discipline aid agencies and the Bangladesh government set in motion.
As time passed in the relentless way it does, more Rohingya have been born and an open situation of tribal governance rules, much of which happens within the camps. It is a travesty that Bangladesh’s concerns of such a state of matters were heard with ear-plugs on. The semblance of aid put its way has reduced to a trickle as the world “grapples” with the more “pressing” needs of the Ukraine invasion and the Gaza tragedy.
As the jets jettison bombs on their own people, scared Myanmar Border Guard Police are now fleeing a losing battle-crossing over to, where else, but Bangladesh. The foreign policy motto has meant Dhaka continuing to pursue blow-hot/blow-cold parleys with Naypyidaw rather than a more aggressive approach.
Close allies that could have made a difference by browbeating the Myanmar junta into resolving the issue were India and China and, a little more in the distance, Russia. On the contrary, India has signed multi-billion trade deals related to energy with Myanmar, while China’s longer term plans require the land which the Rohingya call home.
On the flip side, Myanmar, much like Afghanistan, has side-tracked isolation and sanctions through the drug trade. Afghan poppies and tablets churned out by Myanmar are in great demand. Those insidious tablets in their varied forms are finding easy inroads to Bangladesh. As the drama centring the rape of a married woman on the campus of Jahangirnagar University unravels, free availability of drugs on the campus are being traced to its haven Cox’s Bazar with origins across the River Naf.
The world is witness to how arms and drug traders find the will and way to penetrate the most sophisticated societies. From that perspective, Bangladesh is easy pickings. Delhi was able to convince Dhaka to prevent safe-havens for insurgency and control arms from reaching the seven sister states.
How the Rohingya are able to source arms in their now open fight against the Myanmar army is as much a question as is Afghanistan’s ability to do the same. The Afghans have seen off more than three decades of Russian and US military campaigns on their territory. The bulk of the Rohingya refugees languishing in camps, refusing to be transported back to their hinterlands, haven’t exhibited the grit displayed by the Afghans. Sooner than later Bangladesh may have to face some really difficult decisions, ranging from forced push-backs or amalgamating these refugees as another form of indigenous Bangladeshis.
Given the restive atmosphere in the hills, both options come fraught with unenviable consequences. What does seem certain is that the Rohingya are no one’s babies.
Mahmudur Rahman is a writer, columnist, broadcaster, and communications specialist.