Bangladesh and Myanmar are planning to sign a deal to hold dialogue on regular basis on non-traditional security threat.
“Bangladesh wants to engage with Myanmar extensively and it floated the security dialogue idea during the foreign-secretary level meeting between the two countries held last June and it was agreed by Myanmar,” said a diplomat.
A draft memorandum of understanding on security dialogue was prepared by the foreign ministry and it would be conveyed to Myanmar side, he said.
When asked Myanmar Ambassador Myo Myint Than told the Dhaka Tribune that his country was waiting for the draft MoU.
A Bangladeshi diplomat said they wanted to have as many as possible platforms to engage with Myanmar to strengthen bondage.
Bangladesh and Myanmar have regular meetings under foreign office consultation and joint trade commission and they also defence cooperation.
Dhaka has separate security dialogue arrangement with Washington and New Delhi, but Bangladesh would like to follow the US arrangement with Myanmar, said another Bangladeshi diplomat.
Non-traditional security issues like climate change, environment disaster, natural calamities, epidemic, illegal movement of people and drugs will be discussed under the arrangement, he said.
Both the countries can work together to reduce the impact of climate change and jointly face epidemic like bird flu or any other contagious diseases, which are threat to both countries, he added.
Illegal movement of people is big problem for both the countries and they can jointly formulate policies to stop this, the diplomat said.
“Drugs like yaba are smuggled into Bangladesh through Myanmar border and the security dialogue can be a strong platform to discuss the issue too.”
The government is planning to have at least one meeting in a year where a foreign ministry high official will lead the Bangladesh delegation, the diplomat said.
Meanwhile, Senior Advisor for Burma at the State Department Judith Beth Cefkin is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on February 1 to discuss Rohingya issue in Myanmar.
“Washington feels that Bangladesh help is needed to have short-medium and long-term solution to Rohingya problems in Rakhine state,” said another diplomat.
She is expected to meet officials of prime minister’s office, foreign ministry, home ministry and disaster management ministry during her visit.
In a testimony in Senate last December, Judith said: “The US government coordinates closely with the international community to send unified messages to the government of Burma on Rakhine State.”
She said after tensions spiraled into violence in June and October 2012, nearly 200 people were killed and approximately 140,000 people, mainly Muslims, displaced and up to 60,000 Rohingyas fled Rakhine State by boat, the largest number in over 20 years.
