DHAKA, Dec 28, 2024 (BSS) - Security experts, former diplomats, and academics today called for making engagement with Arakan Army (AA), which now controls more than 80 percent of Rakhine State, including the 271-km border between Bangladesh and Myanmar.

They were addressing a policy dialogue on "Rakhine after the Fall of Maungdaw: Implications for Bangladesh and the Region", organized by Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS) at a city hotel.

BIPSS President Major General (retd) A N M Muniruzzaman moderated the discussion, with former Defense Attach to Myanmar and former Ambassador to Libya Major General (retd) Md Shahidul Haque and East-West University Assistant Professor Parvez Karim Abbasi serving as panelists.

"I would say it's high time to engage with the Arakan Army, diplomatically also, because this is a standard procedure in many cases, but we should also keep our military options open," said Abbasi.

He suggested that if Dhaka cannot directly communicate with a non-state actor like the Arakan Army, it should explore all possible informal channels to establish contact. 

Abbasi warned that the Arakan Army's control over Rakhine could exacerbate insurgency risks in India's northeastern states.
Major General (retd) Muniruzzaman said Bangladesh government should formulate a clear strategy to address the complex situation in Rakhine.
 
"If we don't establish contact with the Arakan Army in time... Rakhine is not landlocked and there is already a process of establishing external contacts through maritime routes," he cautioned.

Referring to India's approach, Muniruzzaman noted that while New Delhi has historically maintained close ties with Myanmar's junta, it appears to be recalibrating its strategy to engage with the Arakan Army in light of Rakhine's shifting dynamics.

Major General (retd) Haque described engaging with the Arakan Army as a potential "win-win situation" for Bangladesh, benefiting not only security but also economic interests. 

He observed that the Arakan Army's dominance in Rakhine has created a complex situation for India, which could present a strategic opportunity for Bangladesh.

"This is the opportunity for us... for the first time, we are in the driver's seat, especially in negotiating our interests with India," he said.

Last week, in Thailand, Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain urged Myanmar to address ongoing border and Rakhine issues, reiterating that Dhaka cannot engage with non-state actors such as the Arakan Army.

"I informed Myanmar that the border is no longer under their control. It is now controlled by non-state actors like the Arakan Army. As a state, we cannot engage with them. Myanmar must find a way to resolve the issues related to the border and Rakhine," Hossain told reporters in Dhaka after attending an informal consultation on Myanmar.

The Arakan Army's growing influence and new reality in Rakhine has implications for Bangladesh in border management and raised fears of a potential new influx of displaced Rohingyas.