Myanmar’s Conflict Reaches Bangladesh

 

 Myanmar’s Conflict Reaches Bangladesh

What Happened: Myanmar’s ongoing civil war directly impacts neighboring Bangladesh, both through refugee flows and through violence spilling over the border. Since last October, fighting between the Arakan Army and the Myanmar military has been particularly fierce in Rakhine State, which borders Bangladesh. In the most recent development, there have been numerous instances of gunfire targeting vessels traveling in the Naf River, which forms the border between Bangladesh and Myanmar. These attacks forced Bangladesh to halt use of the main maritime route connecting Saint Martin’s Island, located at the mouth of the river, to the mainland. Now Saint Martin’s population of over 10,000 are facing shortages of food and other daily supplies, while also losing out on critical income from tourism.

“A food crisis has already started as no cargo boats and speedboats are running to the area,” Nur, a 26-year-old native of Saint Martin’s, told The Diplomat. While some emergency supplies were sent, he said they will not be enough: “If the boats don’t start running again normally, the crisis won’t be solved.” Meanwhile, local incomes – now heavily reliant on a tourism boom that began in 2022 – are being hit. Nur estimated that a local resort he co-owns has lost “at least 70 percent of our revenue compared to previous years.”

What Comes Next: Reports of bullets fired from Myanmar territory toward Bangladeshi fishing boats are becoming more frequent, as are incidents of Myanmar nationals (including military troops) illegally crossing the border to flee the advancing Arakan Army. “The conflict between the junta and AA … is extending into the waterways, particularly the Naf River,” said Altaf Parvez, a researcher and writer on Southeast Asian history and politics. Saint Martin’s is paying the price. But Bangladesh’s government must tread carefully in navigating the situation, as it cannot afford to alienate whoever emerges victorious. “The Bangladesh government must maintain good relations with both the AA and Myanmar government, as it seems the AA may soon take control of Rakhine State,” Parvez noted.