The Bangladesh Army is wary of committing any assistance or cooperation in the event an extended military operation is launched in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, where the Arakan Army is finding it difficult to dislodge junta forces in three key towns, including Sittwe.
It is said that Bangladesh Army chief General Waker-uz-Zaman refrained from fully committing his force’s assistance in keeping open vital supply routes, close to the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, open for the Arakan Army’s offensive, during his meeting with US Army Pacific (USARPAC) Deputy Commanding General Lieutenant General Joel ‘JB’ Vowell on March 24.
Also, US Deputy National Security Advisor Alex N Wong spoke over the phone with Bangladesh Chief Adviser’s High Representative on the Rohingya Problem and Priority Issues Khalilur Rahman on April 2 evening. Bangladesh government officials said Wong and Rahman discussed a broad range of issues of mutual interest. This is the “highest level” contact so far between the Trump administration and Bangladesh’s interim authority.
The Wong-Rahman telephone conversation assumes significance in the backdrop of the US government’s recent confirmation to provide $73 million in financial aid for Rohingya refugees living in camps in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar district. The US has contributed nearly $2.4 billion since 2017, besides providing the United Nations with emergency food and nutrition support.
While it was not immediately known whether Wong and Rahman discussed the critical issue of a “safe zone” (for the Rohingya) along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, sources said this was tied up with the US’ interest in pushing the Bangladesh Army on helping keep supply routes open for the Arakan Army.
During his Dhaka visit, Lt Gen Vowell met Bangladesh Army’s Director General of Operations Brigadier General Mohammad Alimul Amin at the Armed Forces Division under Chief Advisor Mohammad Yunus’s office.
Bangladesh strategic affairs analysts said Lt Gen Vowell’s visit was “critical” considering that the Arakan Army might be planning to launch a major military offensive to capture three remaining towns in the Rakhine State – Sittwe, Kyaukphyu and Manaung – where Myanmar army units continue to hold out.
Bangladesh territory close to the border with Myanmar will be impacted in the event of the Arakan Army’s offensive. This will entail keeping supply lines open, which can be ensured by the Bangladesh Army units.
While Lt Gen Vowell’s short visit was aimed at taking an overview of the type of assistance and cooperation that the Bangladesh Army units could provide, sources said that Gen Zaman was cautious and circumspect about making any such commitments.
There are reports that Myanmar military junta forces have been militarily active over the last few days, conducting at least 21 airstrikes and unleashing artillery fire in areas in Sagaing, Magwe, Shan, Kachin, Rakhine and Karenni.
On March 31, reports said, a junta fighter plane dropped bombs on Mrauk-U town that is under the Arakan Army’s control. Besides, a junta naval vessel shelled a village in Kyaukphyu, also in the Rakhine State. Earlier, on March 30, junta airplanes bombed another village in Kyaukphyu.
