Bangladesh–Myanmar Relations

The Bangladesh–Myanmar relations refer to the bilateral relationship between the neighbouring states of Bangladesh and Myanmar. The relationship between the two countries have been generally frosty under the Burmese military junta, and as a result of the presence of over 270,000 Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. The civil society and political class of Bangladesh have often expressed solidarity for Myanmar's pro-democracy struggle. However, relations between the two nations soured as a result of Rohingya genocide which resulted in the influx of over 1.1 million Rohingya refugees from Rakhine State in Myanmar to Bangladesh. Despite being neighbouring countries, very little trade exists among these countries.

History

Colonial era

Buddhism came to Myanmar in ancient times through Bengal. This shared Buddhist heritage was helpful in resisting the later British rule in the region, which expanded from Bengal outward to Myanmar (then Burma) in the 19th century. The monk U Ottama played a significant role in promoting ties between Burma and Bengali nationalists.

Contemporary era

In May 1979, Burmese President Ne Win visited Bangladesh. During his visit, on May 23, a demarcation agreement between the two countries was signed.

Operation Clean and Beautiful Nation was a military operation conducted by the Tatmadaw (Myanmar Armed Forces) in northern Rakhine State, near Myanmar's border with Bangladesh in 1991. In December 1991, Tatmadaw soldiers crossed the border and accidentally fired on a Bangladeshi military outpost, resulting in Bangladesh Army aiding Rohingya Solidarity Organisation as retaliation. The conflict ended in Burmese tactical failure.

On 7 October 1998, between three and five Bangladeshi fishermen were killed by Burmese Navy forces just off the coast of St. Martin's Island. On 8 September 1999, one Bangladeshi fisherman was shot and killed by Burmese Navy forces near St. Martin's Island. Nine crewmen from the victim's fishing boat abandoned it, swam for their lives, and were rescued by Bangladeshi forces. The Bangladeshi government lodged a formal protest note to Myanmar. On 20 August 2000, the Bangladeshi police reported that Burmese border guards had shot and killed four Bangladeshi fishermen off the coast of St. Martin's Island.

In 2000, a rumoured military clash occurred between the two countries around the Naf River.

The November 2008 Bangladesh–Myanmar naval standoff caused the relations between two countries deteriorate, as Myanmar allowed the South Korean company Daewoo to explore the seabed in an area southwest of St. Martin's Island, the area that was contested between Bangladesh and Myanmar as part of their respective exclusive economic zones. Myanmar deployed two naval warships to protect its assets. Citing international law, Bangladesh asserted that Myanmar should not allow any kind of activities in disputed territories until a resolution. After Bangladeshi requests were not heeded, the Bangladesh Navy deployed three warships in the area; the , and and Bangladesh Air Force deployed Mig 29. As a result, Myanmar withdrew its warships and Daewoo began to remove its equipment from the area. In 2012, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea granted the disputed area to Bangladesh, resulting in both tactical and strategic victory for Bangladesh.

On 6 October 2018, the government of Myanmar updated its 2015–2018 map of Myanmar Information Management Unit showing St. Martin's Island as a part of their sovereign territory and spread the maps in two global websites. Following the event, the Myanmar Ambassador in Dhaka was summoned by the Government of Bangladesh on 6 October 2018. Rear Admiral (retd) Md Khurshed Alam, maritime affairs secretary at the Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs handed over a strongly worded protest note to him. The Myanmar envoy said it was a "mistake" to show the St. Martin's Island as part of their country's territory.

Aung Kyaw Moe, the ambassador of Myanmar to Bangladesh, was called in four times by the Bangladesh ministry of foreign affairs in 2022 due to Myanmar Army's violation of Bangladesh's airspace in the Naikhongchhari bordering area multiple times.

Following the Arakan Army’s rise and its control over most of Rakhine State, both country's relations have been significantly influenced by the Arakan Army growing presence along the border. Bangladesh has intensified border security and opened communication channels with the AA.

On May 2025, proposals for a UN-supervised humanitarian corridor to the Rakhine state have sparked internal disagreements in Dhaka.

In May 2025, Bangladesh recalled Monowar Hossain, its ambassador to Myanmar, after allegations that he had opened lines of communication with the rebel Arakan Army.

Conflict

Myanmar military has repeatedly violated Bangladesh’s land, airspace and sea with complete impunity and lack of enforcement from the Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Air Force and Bangladesh Navy. Myanmar recently made an incursion into Bangladesh’s exclusive economic zone, but the Bangladesh navy took almost seven days to send a patrol boat where the Myanmar navy was firing shells at Bangladesh’s Saint Martin’s Island.

In December 2016, the Bangladeshi border guard accused the Myanmar Navy of firing on four Bangladeshi fishermen in the Bay of Bengal, leading to a formal protest.

In early February 2024, over 300 Myanmar Border Guard Police personnel illegally crossed the Bangladesh–Myanmar border, leading to a tense situation where they were disarmed and interned by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). This incident is part of a continuing pattern of violations by Myanmar, including unauthorized military incursions and attacks on Bangladeshi territory, which contravene international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter. Bangladesh has maintained its neutrality and adherence to international law amidst Myanmar's ongoing civil conflict, highlighting the challenges in bilateral relations and the broader regional stability concerns. On 24 February 2024, Bangladesh Rapid Action Battalion Director General M Khurshid Hossain claimed that Myanmar wanted to engage in a war with his country.

See also

* Bangladesh–Myanmar border
* Rohingya genocide
* Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bangladesh-Burma relations

Myanmar
Bilateral relations of Myanmar