Not sabre rattling but quiet and patient diplomacy essentially should be the response

Relations with Myanmar

It has been five days that a Nayek of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) was taken prisoner by Myanmarese border security forces. The photo of the prisoner since then was put out in the social media and the captive’s rather worn down look and some probable purported signs of his mishandling, created understandable angst among the audience in Bangladesh. Not only the picture of the held Nayek but the details of the incident which were reported in our media, have been enough to create due hurt feelings and concern among Bangladeshis. Besides, the fall outs of the incident could be contained much earlier if their authorities had been quick in releasing our man promptly. As it is, they are delaying the release and it appears this is due mainly to a tussle between their two ministries over the issue with the foreign ministry favouring immediate release while the home ministry wants release tied to fulfilment of certain conditions.
But the moot question is whether we can allow the case of an overreaction on the part of the Myanmar authorities to allow the striving for even better relations with an important immediate neighbour? The main task of diplomacy is not to start but prevent hostilities or further hostilities. Our Foreign Ministry and diplomats are now rightly engaged in the tasks of sorting out the issue quietly and successfully --as they should-- so that we can secure the fastest release of the BGB man while also not jeopardizing the maintenance of good relations with the neighbouring country. They have to be given as much time as it takes. And indeed these are worthwhile goals to be pursued unlike any emotion charged reaction over the capture of the BGB man that could escalate into a most unwanted confrontation or even worse things between the two countries at their borders.
Therefore, patient and quiet diplomacy has to be given the highest priority over the matter and not any kind of sabre rattling. Like with India, Bangladesh has many reasons to want to have a friendly neighbour on its eastern side. Surely, friendship is a two way street and both must play for the same to happen and deepen. But we have the Rohingya issue to settle with Myanmar and the latter’s government has its peculiarities or oddities for which the whole world faced troubles in varying degrees in dealing with them. Thus, Bangladesh cannot expect exceptional favourable conduct or results from Myanmar under the circumstances. It can have no rational choice other than a patient diplomatic response to achieve the freedom of the BGB soldier.

Not sabre rattling but quiet and patient diplomacy essentially should be the response

Relations with Myanmar

It has been five days that a Nayek of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) was taken prisoner by Myanmarese border security forces. The photo of the prisoner since then was put out in the social media and the captives rather worn down look and some probable purported signs of his mishandling, created understandable angst among the audience in Bangladesh. Not only the picture of the held Nayek but the details of the incident which were reported in our media, have been enough to create due hurt feelings and concern among Bangladeshis. Besides, the fall outs of the incident could be contained much earlier if their authorities had been quick in releasing our man promptly. As it is, they are delaying the release and it appears this is due mainly to a tussle between their two ministries over the issue with the foreign ministry favouring immediate release while the home ministry wants release tied to fulfilment of certain conditions. But the moot question is whether we can allow the case of an overreaction on the part of the Myanmar authorities to allow the striving for even better relations with an important immediate neighbour? The main task of diplomacy is not to start but prevent hostilities or further hostilities. Our Foreign Ministry and diplomats are now rightly engaged in the tasks of sorting out the issue quietly and successfully --as they should-- so that we can secure the fastest release of the BGB man while also not jeopardizing the maintenance of good relations with the neighbouring country. They have to be given as much time as it takes. And indeed these are worthwhile goals to be pursued unlike any emotion charged reaction over the capture of the BGB man that could escalate into a most unwanted confrontation or even worse things between the two countries at their borders. Therefore, patient and quiet diplomacy has to be given the highest priority over the matter and not any kind of sabre rattling. Like with India, Bangladesh has many reasons to want to have a friendly neighbour on its eastern side. Surely, friendship is a two way street and both must play for the same to happen and deepen. But we have the Rohingya issue to settle with Myanmar and the latters government has its peculiarities or oddities for which the whole world faced troubles in varying degrees in dealing with them. Thus, Bangladesh cannot expect exceptional favourable conduct or results from Myanmar under the circumstances. It can have no rational choice other than a patient diplomatic response to achieve the freedom of the BGB soldier.