Bangladesh News and Discussions

[NSG_Blackcats]

Seas 'threaten 20m in Bangladesh'​

Up to 20 million people in low-lying Bangladesh are at risk from rising sea levels in the coming decades, according to new research.Scientists predict that salty water could reach far inland, making it hard to cultivate staple foods like rice. The research comes as the government appeals for $5bn (£3bn) over five years to combat climate change. In May, Cyclone Aila left thousands homeless, killed many and caused widespread flooding and damage. The predictions come from the Centre for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (Cegis) in Bangladesh. It suggests a surprisingly small area of land will be permanently lost to the waters, but notes that vast tracts in the south-west could be inundated every monsoon season.

Full Story

 

[Rage]

BSF, BDR brass make peace moves at border

Wednesday, Jul 15, 2009 at 0514 hrs Kolkata:

Stressing that there was an overwhelming need to reduce the number of deaths in cross-border firing during intrusion along the Indo-Bangla border, the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) agreed to create awareness among residents along both sides of the border.

The decision was taken during a high-level meeting in Dhaka between the BSF and BDR held from July 11-14, Director General (BSF) M L Kumawat said on Tuesday after returning from Dhaka. While Kumawat led the BSF delegation, the BDR delegation was led by Major General Moinul Islam.

The forces will ask the residents not to venture near the border areas at night. “This will help in reducing killings of innocent villagers along the border. According to our statistics, 85 per cent people were killed at night,” Kumawat said.

He said the BSF has identified 46 places where there is no fencing and stressed on immediate fencing in the area to prevent border-related crimes.

The BSF has also urged their counterparts in Bangladesh to take action against terrorist camps operating in their territory. The Bangladeshi side, however, said that no terror camps exist on their soil as per their knowledge.

“We have given a list of 77 most wanted fugitives hiding in Bangladesh and requested them to start a thorough operation to arrest them. They assured us of action in case they get any information about such camps. We have also provided them with information about Dawood Ibrahim’s associates active along the border areas in Bangladesh,” Kumawat said.

He said the meeting was a breakthrough in the relationship between the BDR and BSF. “We have decided for joint border management to check crimes along the border. With this meeting we can hope for a better future and hope there will be no confrontation between the BSF and BDR,” he added.


BSF, BDR brass make peace moves at border

 

[RPK]

India, B’desh discuss issues relating to NE insurgents

Northeast terror news-India, B?desh discuss issues relating to NE insurgents

India and Bangladesh today discussed issues related to north-east insurgents taking shelter in that country amid New Delhi's expectation that the Sheikh Hasina government would crack down on them.

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and his visiting counterpart Dipu Moni also discussed steps to boost trade and connectivity and various developmental programmes that can be undertaken through collaborative efforts.


Moni, on her maiden bilateral visit, also met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during which the status of the relations was reviewed.

Krishna and Moni held wide-ranging talks that covered the entire gamut of bilateral ties, including security issues, connectivity, trade and border problems.

The security aspects covered the issue of north east insurgents taking shelter in Bangladesh, with India expecting that the Hasina government would crack down on them considering its strong resolve to fight terrorism.

The two sides also discussed ways to build on their ties in other fields.

India has already taken a number of unilateral steps to create a "positive" atmosphere with Bangladesh. These include India's decision to allow duty free import of eight million pieces of garments, various concessions under the Least Developed Country category and lifting of ban on FDI.

 

[RPK]

India, B`desh to ink pacts for transfer of terrorists

New Delhi: India and Bangladesh on Thursday decided to sign agreements which will provide for transfer of terrorists and criminals, including sentenced persons, a move that could enable deportation of north-east insurgents taking shelter in the neighbouring country.

The two countries also decided on a slew of other measures, including starting of border 'haats (markets)' and movement of containerised cargo by rail and water for bilateral trade.


In a joint statement issued at the conclusion of the four-day visit of Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, the two sides agreed to conclude the mutual legal assistance treaty on criminal matters.

The decision, which was arrived at during talks between Moni and External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, will enable transfer of terrorists and criminals wanted in either country.

In India's context, it will provide a legal framework for seeking deportation of northeast insurgents who take shelter in Bangladesh.

The two countries also decided to conclude an agreement of transfer of sentenced persons. This pact will also facilitate deportation of insurgents who have been arrested and sentenced in Bangladesh like ULFA leader Anup Chetia.

Chetia is set to be released from prison in Bangladesh soon and India has already made a request that he should be handed over.

Krishna and Moni also decided to sign an agreement on combating international terrorism, organized crime and illegal drug trafficking.

They directed officials to meet and discuss technical and other parameters to finalise an agreement for sharing of the waters of Teesta river.

The two leaders agreed to immediately commence Joint Hydrological Observations on the river. They also agreed to undertake bank protection works, dredging of Ichhamati river and minor irrigation/drinking water schemes on Feni river.

India agreed to provide at least 100 MW to Bangladesh on a priority basis. It will also undertake a feasibility study on power grid inter-connectivity for transmission lines to Bangladesh.

The two countries discussed designating Ashuganj as a new port of call under the Inland Water Transit and Trade Agreement as well as the use of Chittagong port by India.

Bangladesh side agreed to provide access to Ashuganj Port to facilitate transportation of the Over Dimensional Consignments for the Palatana Power Project in Tripura.

India agreed in principle to provide a Line of Credit for railway projects and supply of locomotives, coaches and buses.

India also offered to take up construction of Akhaura- Agartala railway link.

 

[RPK]

fullstory

Bangla seeks deportation of Mujibur Rehman's killers from US

Washington, Sept 17 (PTI) Bangladesh has sought from the United States the deportation of its first president Mujibur Rahman's killers who are reportedly living in that country.

The request in this regard was made by the visiting Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Dipu Moni during her meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department yesterday.

"I sought her cooperation in deporting the killers of the father of the nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, some of whom have reportedly been living in the US," Moni told reporters at a joint press conference with Clinton after the meeting.

Father of present Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the founder of Bangladesh and the country's first president after it was separated from Pakistan in 1971.

Mujibur Rahman was assassinated by a group of junior army officers on August 15, 1975.

 

[Rage]

Naga rebels kill six in Bangladesh camp, held at Tripura border

October 5th, 2009


Agartala, Oct 5 (IANS) Five militants of the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM), who had allegedly killed six of their colleagues, were detained while while they were crossing the Bangladesh border into Tripura, officials said Monday.

A large cache of arms and ammunition, including five AK-series rifles and some grenades, as well as Bangladeshi currency were found with the terrorists, aged 21 to 24 years, who were detained late Sunday by troopers of the Border Security Force (BSF).

“Following a crisis of food and other essentials, NSCN-IM cadres engaged in a gunbattle with their superiors at their camp at Ghagrachari in eastern Bangladesh Saturday. Killing six senior NSCN-IM militants, they deserted their camps and tried to come to India before they were apprehended by the BSF,” a senior BSF official told reporters on condition of anonymity.

The Naga militants tried to cross the India-Bangladesh border through Chetlang in northern Tripura, 185 km north of here, but BSF troopers intercepted them in a surprise action, added north Tripura district police chief Arjun Debbarma.

They had been handed to police and produced in a local court.

The Tripura government has informed Nagaland and asked that the five be taken back to the state. They had joined the NSCN-IM four years ago.

“A team of Nagaland police is likely to come to Tripura soon to take back the militants,” Debbarma told IANS over the phone. He refused to disclose details of the interrogation of the Naga rebels.

New Delhi had signed a ceasefire pact with the NSCN-IM in 1997. The truce has been extended every 12 months since then.

In July, police in Tripura had arrested seven members of the Manipur based People’s United Liberation Front (PULF), including their self-styled army chief Mohammad Abdur Rahman from Agartala.

According to Tripura Director General of Police Pranay Sahay, the NSCN-IM had formed the PULF in 1995.

Police in Manipur had taken custody of the PULF guerrillas.


Naga rebels kill six in Bangladesh camp, held at Tripura border | Sindh Today - Online News

 

[icecoolben]

Has our indian government set up any working panel with the bangladesh government to cooperate on climate change and cross-border terrorism.
We should do well to share technology with this needy country on combating climate change. We can set up a grid of lasers along the border and integrate it with a control center in india and focus our troops places that trigger disturbance. Night vision cameras can be camaflouged and checked for infiltration on the disturbed area to prevent false alarms and if confirmed of intrusion a strategic operation can be performed by our commandos.

 

[IBRIS]

Bangladesh steps up troops deployment on Myanmar border amid row

Amid growing diplomatic tension between Bangladesh and Myanmar, Dhaka has reinforced troops deployment along the border with its eastern neighbour as it protested against erecting of a border fence by Yangon.

The border guard Bangladesh Rifles has cancelled all but essential leaves as tension mounted along the Naikhyangchhari border in Bandarban after Myanmar resumed border fencing on Friday. Myanmar also reinforced army deployment on its side of the border.

The Home Ministry asked the Director General of the Bangladesh Rifles to keep their forces "on alert" along the border.

"Troop deployment in the border has been reinforced and all but essential leaves of BDR personnel have been cancelled," Major General Mohammad Mainul Islam, Director General of the Bangladesh Rifles, was quoted as saying by the New Age newspaper on Wednesday.

Islam said BDR troops had been deployed along sensitive areas in the border and other preparation had also been made.

Dhaka may need to resume diplomatic efforts to stop intrusion of Myanmar citizens into the Bangladesh territory seeking shelter or employment, a home ministry official said, adding intrusion into Bangladesh was damaging the country's overseas labour market and reputation of its workers.

"Most of the illegal migrant workers, including boatmen in Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban and other places along the Bangladesh coast are Myanmar citizens," a source said, quoting an intelligence agency report
B'desh steps up troops deployment on Myanmar border amid row- Hindustan Times

 

[IBRIS]

Last year naval vessels from both countries were facing one another after the Burmese side reportedly began exploring in the area for oil and gas last year in November.

Bangladesh insists that the area lies well within its waters and has formally protested over the issue. Burmese navy has responded by alleged that the Bangladesh ships are trespassing in Burmese territory. Bangladesh government has recently taken measures to exploit the oil-rich Bay of Bengal, which have angered the leadership in Rangoon.

Both countries deployed navy ships but withdrew them when Myanmar halted the exploration amid intense diplomatic pressure. Troops on both side are on the highest alert.

 

[leonblack08]

Myanmar Border
Govt mobilises troops
Hasan Jahid Tusher and M Abul Kalam Azad

Bangladesh has reinforced its troops along the border with Myanmar as tension went high following repeated provocative acts by the latter's military forces including violation of international border and illegal construction of barbed-wire fences along the frontier.

Highly-placed sources in the government said the reinforcement was required as the Myanmar military junta deployed huge troops with heavy weapons within five kilometres of the border and many of them frequently intruded into Bangladesh territory, added the sources.

Bangladesh in the past always resolved all disputes with its neighbours through bilateral discussion but this time the authorities had taken it seriously and they are taking steps accordingly, said the sources.

The tension ran high as Myanmar troops fired several shots towards Bangladesh territory, witnesses said.

Paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles were kept on high alert yesterday along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.

"Myanmar troops intruded into Bangladesh territory several times which is a serious threat to country's security," said an armed forces division report submitted to the government with its recommendations.

A group of Myanmar troops from engineering corps of its Medaik camp trespassed into Bangladesh territory to gather information about Bangladesh on September 29, the report said, adding that after the intrusion Bangladesh army was put on high alert there.

In recent years and months, Myanmar authorities have constructed new roads, military war obstacles including bunkers along the borders, renovated a nearby airport and started fencing the border as part of its provocative activities.

Myanmar has already constructed 42-kilometre long road and 9-kilometre war obstacles for its troops and set up concrete pillars on a 10-kilometre area along the border.

Bangladesh has protested Myanmar's such provocative acts time and again but the military junta did not pay any heed, sources in the foreign ministry told The Daily Star.

Sources said the Myanmar junta had renovated and expanded Sittwe Airport known as Arakan Airport and started flying aircraft for military exercise from there two to three days back which also increased tension on the Bangladesh side.

They added that the airport had remained abandoned for military aircrafts since the Second World War and a few small civil aircrafts used to fly from it.

"Myanmar has been making all-out preparations keeping in view Bangladesh," said a senior government official not authorised to talk to media.

Foreign ministry officials said Bangladesh has repeatedly requested Myanmar authorities to stop such provocations but they showed no restraint.

Following fresh tension, an army brigade has been moved to Fashiakhali of Ramu to closely monitor the activities of Myanmar troops. Police, Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and Ansar members were also increased in the bordering region over the past few days.

"Extra soldiers were also deployed in some bordering upazilas of Khagrachhari, Bandarban and Cox's Bazar districts," Home Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder told The Daily Star yesterday, adding that the government is seriously concerned over the recent events on the border.

Our Bandarban correspondent Monirul Islam Monu adds: Bangladesh troops have been kept on high alert at Naikhhongchhari upazila in Bandarban and Hnila and Damdamia in Cox's Bazar district bordering Myanmar after the fresh tension.

Different unconfirmed sources said, in recent times 13 fighter planes were positioned at Sittwe Airport and 12 war ships anchored in the two rivers of Myanmar.

In November last year, Myanmar warships entered into Bangladesh maritime boundary to guard its exploration vessels, fomenting enormous tension between the two countries as both the countries mobilised their troops on the borders.

Myanmar had to withdraw the warships and the oil and gas exploration rigs as Bangladesh initiated both bilateral and international negotiations to resolve the crisis peacefully.

The Daily Star - Details News

 

[Quickgun Murugan]

Myanmar Border
Govt mobilises troops
Hasan Jahid Tusher and M Abul Kalam Azad

Bangladesh has reinforced its troops along the border with Myanmar as tension went high following repeated provocative acts by the latter's military forces including violation of international border and illegal construction of barbed-wire fences along the frontier.

Highly-placed sources in the government said the reinforcement was required as the Myanmar military junta deployed huge troops with heavy weapons within five kilometres of the border and many of them frequently intruded into Bangladesh territory, added the sources.

Bangladesh in the past always resolved all disputes with its neighbours through bilateral discussion but this time the authorities had taken it seriously and they are taking steps accordingly, said the sources.

The tension ran high as Myanmar troops fired several shots towards Bangladesh territory, witnesses said.

Paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles were kept on high alert yesterday along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.

"Myanmar troops intruded into Bangladesh territory several times which is a serious threat to country's security," said an armed forces division report submitted to the government with its recommendations.

A group of Myanmar troops from engineering corps of its Medaik camp trespassed into Bangladesh territory to gather information about Bangladesh on September 29, the report said, adding that after the intrusion Bangladesh army was put on high alert there.

In recent years and months, Myanmar authorities have constructed new roads, military war obstacles including bunkers along the borders, renovated a nearby airport and started fencing the border as part of its provocative activities.

Myanmar has already constructed 42-kilometre long road and 9-kilometre war obstacles for its troops and set up concrete pillars on a 10-kilometre area along the border.

Bangladesh has protested Myanmar's such provocative acts time and again but the military junta did not pay any heed, sources in the foreign ministry told The Daily Star.

Sources said the Myanmar junta had renovated and expanded Sittwe Airport known as Arakan Airport and started flying aircraft for military exercise from there two to three days back which also increased tension on the Bangladesh side.

They added that the airport had remained abandoned for military aircrafts since the Second World War and a few small civil aircrafts used to fly from it.

"Myanmar has been making all-out preparations keeping in view Bangladesh," said a senior government official not authorised to talk to media.

Foreign ministry officials said Bangladesh has repeatedly requested Myanmar authorities to stop such provocations but they showed no restraint.

Following fresh tension, an army brigade has been moved to Fashiakhali of Ramu to closely monitor the activities of Myanmar troops. Police, Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and Ansar members were also increased in the bordering region over the past few days.

"Extra soldiers were also deployed in some bordering upazilas of Khagrachhari, Bandarban and Cox's Bazar districts," Home Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder told The Daily Star yesterday, adding that the government is seriously concerned over the recent events on the border.

Our Bandarban correspondent Monirul Islam Monu adds: Bangladesh troops have been kept on high alert at Naikhhongchhari upazila in Bandarban and Hnila and Damdamia in Cox's Bazar district bordering Myanmar after the fresh tension.

Different unconfirmed sources said, in recent times 13 fighter planes were positioned at Sittwe Airport and 12 war ships anchored in the two rivers of Myanmar.

In November last year, Myanmar warships entered into Bangladesh maritime boundary to guard its exploration vessels, fomenting enormous tension between the two countries as both the countries mobilised their troops on the borders.

Myanmar had to withdraw the warships and the oil and gas exploration rigs as Bangladesh initiated both bilateral and international negotiations to resolve the crisis peacefully.

The Daily Star - Details News

The main problem Bangladesh will face in case of war against Maynmmar is lack of Intel. Their inventories are yet to be known accurately known.

 

[ejazr]

Good news keeps coming from Bangladesh. The recent elections results were AL won 3-4th majority shows the spirit of the Bangladeshi people in rejecting right wing politics. Even more positive if you note that Bangladesh has the third highest population of Hindus in the world after India and Nepal. And we all know where Nepal is headed.

Militant network in Bangladesh has collapsed: Dhaka police

Dhaka, Oct 3 (IANS) Islamist militant activities in Bangladesh have “collapsed” following a series of arrests of suspected Indian militants, a police official here has claimed.
The Detective Branch of Dhaka Police said that with Wednesday’s arrest of 28-year-old Emdadullah alias Mahbub, a suspected member of the Pakistan-based Islamist terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the group’s network had broken down, The News Today reported Saturday.

Deputy Commissioner of Metropolitan Detective Branch (south) Monirul Islam said the militant network in Bangladesh had taken a hit after the arrest of Mufti Sheikh Obaidullah and Maulana Mohammad Monsur Ali last July.

The militants stopped contacting each other fearing more arrests after their capture, he claimed.

He said Emdadullah is a suspected member of Harkatul Jihadia Islamia Azadia, a Pakistan-based militant group. He is also the Bangladesh chief of Asif Reza Commando force and member of the LeT, the official said.

The LeT is accused of masterminding the terror attack in Mumbai November last year. The terror group is also accused of carrying out bomb blasts in Mumbai in 2006 and the series of bombings ahead of Diwali in New Delhi in 2005.

Emdadullah is a resident of Padmapukur village under Bagda block in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal in India. He is the son of Ansar ali, alias Abu Ansar, bdnews24.com. news agency web site reported.

Emdadullah had earlier gone into hiding at different places in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan to avoid arrest.

The police got the first clue about the terrorists with the arrest of Abdul Rauf Daud Merchant, a suspected associate of mafia don Dawood Ibrahim, with three other Indian militants in May.

Merchant fled India after being convicted for killing Bollywood music baron Gulshan Kumar in 1997.

Following Merchant’s interrogation, the police nabbed Obaidullah and Mansur, who have been residing in Bangladesh since 1994, masquerading as seminary teachers.

Militant network in Bangladesh has collapsed: Dhaka police

 

[RPK]

Indo-Bangla border fencing to be completed by March 2010

Shillong: The Indo-Bangla border fencing project is expected to be completed by March 2010, an official statement said on Friday.

The construction of the fencing has been delayed by problems like harsh topography and pending land acquisition cases, the statement quoting a home ministry report said.


Human habitats within 150 yards of the border, need for realignment of fencing in certain stretches, objections raised by Bangladesh Rifles for constructing of fencing within 150 yards and limited working season were also said to be the causes for the delay in completion of the project.

However, about 2,649.74 km of fencing has been completed so far out of a total length of 3,436.56 km. The project is now expected to be completed by March, 2010, it said.

In addition, 3,326.82 km of border roads have been constructed out of sanctioned length of 4,326.24 km.

A total of 2,840 km along the Indo-Bangladesh border will be floodlighted at an estimated cost of Rs.1,327 crore and the project will be completed by 2011-2012.

The work has been assigned to the CPWD, NBCC and NPCC.

 

[abhi]

The Daily Star - Details News

Troops all alert on Myanmar front
Leaves of BDR men restricted; Nasaka round up 10,000 Rohingyas for push-in

Myanmar authorities continue erecting concrete pillars for barbed wire fence along Myanmar border at Naikkhangchhari in Bandarban. Photo: Star
M Abul Kalam Azad and Ahmede Hussain In the wake of the mobilisation of a huge number of Myanmarese troops along the border, Bangladesh is making all-out preparations to thwart any incursion attempt by them, highly placed sources in the government said.

Bangladesh has already sent three army brigades to its hilly border with Myanmar and has readied another brigade following the deliberate provocative moves the latter, sources said.

Intelligence officials said Bangladesh Armed Forces are taking special exercises to handle any eventualities if all diplomatic channels to resolve the conflict are exhausted.

The Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) has imposed restriction on all kinds of leaves, a move which is taken only in 'abnormal' situation, BDR Director General (DG) Major General Mainul Islam said.

A Foreign Ministry official, however, said Bangladesh believes that all crises with its neighbours could be solved through diplomatic means. "But that does not mean that we will remain idle if the country's territorial sovereignty is at stake," he said.

The DG of the country's border forces said, "This is an abnormal situation. No country generally deploys its armed forces on the border. We don't like the erection of barbed-wire fences by the engineering corps of the Myanmar army.”

He said his forces are always on war footing. "Our boys will just open fire in case of incursion into any part of the country," he told The Daily Star.

Meanwhile, Nasaka, the Myanmarese border guards, has gathered about 10,000 Rohingyas near its border with Bangladesh in a bid to push them into the Bangladesh territory as part of their latest provocative move, sources at the intelligence agencies said last night.

They have been kept at several bordering points opposite Naikhongchhari in Bandarban over the past few days, they said.

The recent Myanmarese military deployment has prompted Bangladesh to strengthen its military presence along the border.

Asked about what further measures he is going to take, Mainul said BDR will be reinforced with more Border Operations Outposts (BOP) on the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.

The reinforcement was required as the Myanmar military junta deployed huge troops with heavy weapons within five kilometres of the border.

According to different sources on the border, Myanmar has deployed nine military battalions. They were deployed last Friday along the border from Maungdaw to Paletwa. They are: Light Battalions 55 and 20, and Light Infantry Battalions (LIB) 234, 263, 344, 233, 289 and 538.

The LIB 538 based in Rathidaung has been shifted to the Paletwa border and posted at the triangular position facing Bangladesh and India borders, intelligence officials said.

Intelligence sources said Myanmar had recently acquired the technology of building tunnels, aircraft, naval ships and missiles with a range of between 500 and 1,000 kilometres.

Recently the Japanese government has intercepted the supply of magnetic measuring devices used to build long-range ballistic missile system; the shipment was made to Myanmar.

A raid made by the country's police suggests that North Korea has already transferred the Taep'o-dong-2 equipment to Myanmar. Weighed 79,189 kg, Taep'o-dong-2 is the longest of North Korean missiles--it is thought to have a range of 4,000 kilometres.

Myanmarese junta has already bought short and medium-range ballistic missiles (SRMBs) from China and North Korea, SRMB air defence system from Russia, low altitude surface-to-surface missiles from Ukraine and Bulgaria.

Our Bandarban correspondent Monirul Islam Monu reports: People living on the Bangladesh-Myanmar bordering areas have become panicky because of a war-like situation at the frontier.

Locals said Myanmar authorities have increased army deployment at the border under cover of setting up barbed-wire fences there.

Sources who have contacts with both sides of the border said the Myanmar army had set up equipments for high-powered artillery fire at Bolibazar area opposite Chakdhala border at Naikhhongchhari upazila.

Myanmar has also stationed 10 fighter planes at Sittowe (Akiab) Airport and anchored 12 warships in its two rivers as "backup".

 

[Quickgun Murugan]

Myanmar, Bangladesh to establish direct banking system

Myanmar, Bangladesh to establish direct banking system CCTV-International

YANGON, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar is cooperating with neighboring Bangladesh for the establishment of direct banking system between the two countries in a bid to facilitate transaction in bilateral trade.

At a meeting held in Bangladesh's capital city of Dhaka early this month, the Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) and the National Credit and Commerce (NCC) Bank of Bangladesh discussed introduction of Letter of Credit (LC) system between the two countries, sources with the CBM said on Monday.

So far, the two countries' bilateral trade payments were being settled through the third countries of Thailand and Singapore, it said.

Being member countries of Asian Clearing Union (ACU), the two sides also coordinated to boost collaboration for the development of banking sector according to the rules and regulation laid down by ACU, it added.

ACU was established in 1975 with eight member countries including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka to facilitate payments in the process of trade transactions within these countries.

Myanmar joined the ACU in 1977.

In the 2008-09 fiscal year ended in March, Bangladesh's export to Myanmar stood 9.17 million U.S. dollars whereas its import from Myanmar hit 66.49 million dollars, according to the official statistics.

Bangladesh mainly exports pharmaceutical products, leather, garments and other manufacturing goods to Myanmar and imports wood articles, vegetables, processed food and fish.

 

[amitkriit]

How can India reap maximum benefit from this stand-off remains to be seen. Another interesting thing to see will be Indian maneuvers and coordination with USA on this respect keeping the Chinese angle in mind.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

India should remain neutral but lean towards Burma in any war, India also has to seal the borders to prevent mass refugees coming from Bangladesh. The Burmese army is not small in numbers or capability, even Chinese have avoided border problems with them. This war will be more for the natural gas that is in the waters of Burma that is claimed by Bangladesh, if Bangladesh gives up this claim this could resolve with a war,especially with China and India backing Burma there is little to no chance of Bangladesh winning, but they maybe able to hold a defensive position but any territory gained by Burma will embolden them, the interesting thing is Pakistan has not commented their role in this while India has more or less made it clear with the Kapoor's visit to Burma.

 

[leonblack08]

ULFA leaders, 'detained in Dhaka', produced in Indian court


Sat, Nov 7th, 2009 10:36 pm BdST
Dial 2324 from your mobile for latest news
by bdnews24.com New Delhi Correspondent

New Delhi, Nov 7 (bdnews24.com)—Police in India's northeastern state of Assam produced two top leaders of the banned separatist outfit ULFA in a Guwahati court on Saturday.

The Chief Judicial Magistrate in Guwahati sent the duo to 10 days police custody after they were produced in his court on Saturday.

ULFA has alleged that its 'finance secretary' Chitrabon Hazarika and 'foreign secretary' Shashadhar Choudhury had been picked up by "unidentified armed men" from a house in Dhaka, Bangladesh, sometime between Nov 1 night and Nov 2 morning.

The outfit has called for a dawn-to-dusk general shutdown across the state of Assam on Monday (Nov 9) to protest against the detention of its leaders.

In a statement e-mailed to the press, the ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa alleged that the detention of Hazarika and Choudhury from Dhaka was part of the Indian government's "conspiracy" to neutralise the organisation's leaders.

The organisation has also protested their "handover to Indian authorities" though Bangladesh has no extradition treaty with India.

Neither the Indian government in New Delhi nor the state government in Assam has made any official statement on how the two top rebel leaders landed in the custody of Indian police.

Sources in India's home ministry, however, speaking to bdnews24.com in New Delhi, said that Hazarika and Choudhury had been spotted by Border Security Force personnel at the Bangladesh-India border at Gokul Nagar in Tripura.

"They were trying to cross over to India from Bangladesh, when the BSF personnel spotted them and asked them to surrender. They surrendered and were taken into custody," an official of the Indian government's ministry of home affairs said on condition of anonymity.

He added that the two ULFA leaders had later been taken to Guwahati.

The Indian government and security agencies have long alleged that ULFA and other insurgent groups operating in the country's northeastern states have bases in Bangladesh.

They claim that ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, 'military chief' Paresh Barua and other leaders remote-control the outfit's subversive activities in Assam from Dhaka and other cities in Bangladesh.

They have, however, acknowledged that Sheikh Hasina's government, coming to power in January this year, has come down heavily on ULFA leaders and their activities in Bangladesh, booking them in cases such as the 2004 Chittagong 'ten truck arms' haul.

The Indian government's ministry of external affairs has not yet made any formal statement on the detention of Hazarika and Choudhury.

But, according to sources, New Delhi perceives the Bangladesh government's "cooperation" in detaining the duo as "a good gesture" by Dhaka ahead of prime minister Sheikh Hasina's upcoming visit to India.

The ULFA or the United Liberation Front of Assam has been pursuing an armed rebellion since 1979 against what it terms New Delhi's "colonial rule" over the oil-rich tea-growing northeastern state.

The outfit had several camps in Bhutan too. But, in 2003, Bhutan launched a military offensive against them, dismantled its camps and detained a number of its leaders and guerrillas along with a large number of arms and huge quantity of ammunition.

The Bhutanese authorities later handed over the detained insurgents to Indian security forces, although the ULFA alleged that some of its leaders and activists had been killed even after they had surrendered.

ULFA later regrouped and continued its violent insurgency in the state including bombings. But it suffered a split last year, when some of its leaders declared a unilateral cease-fire agreement with the Indian government. New Delhi reciprocated, halting the security forces offensive against the outfit.

The ULFA's top leaders, including Rajkhowa and Barua, however, dissociated themselves from the peace-process and vowed to continue the "armed struggle to liberate Assam from Indian rule".

In March 2008, Mohammed Hafijur Rehman and Din Mohammed, both prime accused in the Chittagong arms haul case, confessed in court that a 10 truck-load consignment of weapons and ammunition, seized in the port city of Bangladesh in 2004, had in fact been meant for the ULFA.

Rehman also revealed that the ULFA military chief Barua himself had supervised the arms-smuggling operation.

During foreign minister Dipu Moni's visit to New Delhi last September, India and Bangladesh had reiterated their resolve to strengthen bilateral co-operation to deter terrorist activities.

In a joint statement, both sides also reiterated their resolve not to allow the use of their territories for activities inimical to each other's security interests.

Sources in the Indian ministry of home affairs, meanwhile, have said that interrogation of Choudhury and Hazarika might provide significant insights into the financing and international operations of ULFA, which investigators believe have in recent years become linked with global arms smuggling cartels.


ULFA leaders, 'detained in Dhaka', produced in Indian court :: Bangladesh :: bdnews24.com ::

 

[Quickgun Murugan]

Bangladesh to seek duty free access of some products to India - People's Daily Online

Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Tuesday said Bangladesh will seek duty free access of some of its specific products to Indian markets during her upcoming visit to the neighboring country.

In this context, she directed the ministries concerned to finalize the list of those products along with preparing strategic papers to this end to further strengthen regional cooperation, national news agency BSS reported.

Prime Minister's Deputy Press Secretary Nazrul Islam said the prime minister laid emphasis on a number of areas including road, rail and river links, people to people connectivity, environment, access to media and telecommunications, environment, agriculture, education, maritime boundary, power, agriculture, trade and business and regional tourism.

The Prime Minister asked the ministries concerned to prepare outlines on the specific agendas ahead of her visit to India in the middle of December. She said India has an important role in increasing connectivity in the region.

Describing poverty as the main enemy in the South Asian region, she said, "We can exchange our needs and demands by maintaining friendly relations with our neighboring countries."

Besides, she said bilateral discussion could be taken place on agriculture, education and maritime boundary during her visit to India.

 

[icecoolben]

Indian considerations regarding burma-bangla conflict

Myanmar Border
Govt mobilises troops
Hasan Jahid Tusher and M Abul Kalam Azad
Bangladesh has reinforced its troops along the border with Myanmar as tension went high following repeated provocative acts by the latter's military forces including violation of international border and illegal construction of barbed-wire fences along the frontier.
Highly-placed sources in the government said the reinforcement was required as the Myanmar military junta deployed huge troops with heavy weapons within five kilometres of the border and many of them frequently intruded into Bangladesh territory, added the sources.

Bangladesh in the past always resolved all disputes with its neighbours through bilateral discussion but this time the authorities had taken it seriously and they are taking steps accordingly, said the sources.

The tension ran high as Myanmar troops fired several shots towards Bangladesh territory, witnesses said.
Paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles were kept on high alert yesterday along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.
"Myanmar troops intruded into Bangladesh territory several times which is a serious threat to country's security," said an armed forces division report submitted to the government with its recommendations.
A group of Myanmar troops from engineering corps of its Medaik camp trespassed into Bangladesh territory to gather information about Bangladesh on September 29, the report said, adding that after the intrusion Bangladesh army was put on high alert there.
In recent years and months, Myanmar authorities have constructed new roads, military war obstacles including bunkers along the borders, renovated a nearby airport and started fencing the border as part of its provocative activities.
Myanmar has already constructed 42-kilometre long road and 9-kilometre war obstacles for its troops and set up concrete pillars on a 10-kilometre area along the border.
Bangladesh has protested Myanmar's such provocative acts time and again but the military junta did not pay any heed, sources in the foreign ministry told The Daily Star.
Sources said the Myanmar junta had renovated and expanded Sittwe Airport known as Arakan Airport and started flying aircraft for military exercise from there two to three days back which also increased tension on the Bangladesh side.
They added that the airport had remained abandoned for military aircrafts since the Second World War and a few small civil aircrafts used to fly from it.
"Myanmar has been making all-out preparations keeping in view Bangladesh," said a senior government official not authorised to talk to media.
Foreign ministry officials said Bangladesh has repeatedly requested Myanmar authorities to stop such provocations but they showed no restraint.
Following fresh tension, an army brigade has been moved to Fashiakhali of Ramu to closely monitor the activities of Myanmar troops. Police, Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and Ansar members were also increased in the bordering region over the past few days.
"Extra soldiers were also deployed in some bordering upazilas of Khagrachhari, Bandarban and Cox's Bazar districts," Home Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder told The Daily Star yesterday, adding that the government is seriously concerned over the recent events on the border.
Our Bandarban correspondent Monirul Islam Monu adds: Bangladesh troops have been kept on high alert at Naikhhongchhari upazila in Bandarban and Hnila and Damdamia in Cox's Bazar district bordering Myanmar after the fresh tension.
Different unconfirmed sources said, in recent times 13 fighter planes were positioned at Sittwe Airport and 12 war ships anchored in the two rivers of Myanmar.
In November last year, Myanmar warships entered into Bangladesh maritime boundary to guard its exploration vessels, fomenting enormous tension between the two countries as both the countries mobilised their troops on the borders.
Myanmar had to withdraw the warships and the oil and gas exploration rigs as Bangladesh initiated both bilateral and international negotiations to resolve the crisis peacefully.
The Daily Star - Details News

this seems like a mini indo-china debacle of 1962. But on claims for the seas. Well, lets analyse indian interests at stake,
1.after a long time we have a pro-indian pm in bangladesh
2.the myanmar junta has been cooperating with us on stopping cross-border terrorists
3.we need access to gas resources in bay of bengal
4.we need a sea route to reach north-east through bay of bengal.
Lets analyse the intensity of the potential conflict
1.with all due respect, this would be a low level skirmish even if the political and armed forces of both countries break the threshold and pull the trigger.
2.it would be confined and severe along the coast-lines along the energy rich basins and the routes that have easy access to them and for strategic heights along the mountain terrain along their borders.
The military strengths of both nations compare poorly as their gdp. So their capacity to wage war would be limited. But, the military junta would have an upper hand as it always has ready access to chinese arms, since a stronger junta that could overwhelm its smaller neighbours would definitely strengthen chinese presence in the region. China would care less what happened to bangla since their engagement was only to try to develop it as a proxy against india. India on the other hand as the predominant power should gaurd the balance of power in the region.
the options that would be available to india if skirmishes break out
1. Call for a cease fire to the neighbours and arrange for negotiations.
2. The junta which could have a stronger hand would definitely try to secure its energy assets by taking strategic points in a blitz, in this case india should arm bangla through covert means to thwart this happening till they agree for peace talks.
3. A prolonged conflict could see a topling of government in bangla by the military. So in this scenario
a.india would have to militarily intervene on be-half of the weaker side, our carrier strike group would perform a blockade, to press for a cease fire. Indian peace keeping forces them would be deployed along those nations line of control till negotians succeed.
b.india wary of direct involvement could provide the goverment in easy terms or as war time aid, stand off weapons and systems to crush any advancement made by myanmar along bangla's geography, that prompt myanmar to call for negotiations, this could also equally evoke a chinese supply of arms to burma and jeparde the whole situation.
The best possible way for this would be for india to jump in now, myanmar would want the zone to export gas reserves, bangla too would have such an interest. India could make the parties agree to a joint venture with ongc or any indian private entity holding 50-60 stake in the venture and the rest equally between those two countrie's enterprises. Initially if v could find gas blocks it would be a huge success, first transporting it by tankers then by pipe-lines. V could also establish a land route to north east by capitaliseing on indian activity there. A pipe-line grid venture can be taken up. Thus by engaging the two states though an economic relationship routed through indian, v can both assure them security and ourselves that v are the pre-dominant and responsible regional power. By solving this spate, our global stature will get an up-lift. V would have accomplised what even super powers had failed in the past. This would be our greatest victory since the liberation of bangladesh.