We trust the diplomatic efforts being undertaken by the government will help secure the safe and swift return of Naik Abdur Razzak, the BGB officer who was abducted by the Myanmar Border Guard Police on June 17.
It is in the interest of both our nations to resolve this matter quickly in order to help restore peaceful relations along our mutual border.
The actions by Myanmar’s border forces in shooting a BGB member and abducting Razzak last week were clearly in violation of border norms and the obligations of our two countries under the Vienna Convention. For some Myanmar border officials to then try and relate Razzak’s return to the wholly unrelated issue of repatriating people rescued from boats, only compounded the offense and undermined talks between our respective foreign ministries.
It is right that the Foreign Ministry summoned Myanmar’s Ambassador to strongly protest the incidents and to seek the early return of the abducted BGB officer.
The government needs to keep using diplomatic channels to help uphold Bangladesh’s sovereignty and ensure human rights and international norms are respected along our border with Myanmar.
Both Bangladesh and Myanmar have a mutual interest in ensuring a swift resolution. Myanmar’s government must realise it has nothing to gain internationally by escalating the matter.
Our governments must both work together to ensure there is no repeat of this type of incident and return normality and peace to our shared border.
