Bangladesh News and Discussion

sum · Post by **sum** » 17 Oct 2008 22:50

Singha wrote:the credit should go to richard nixon for browbeating India and forcing a quick retreat
before we could stick around a while and support Mujibur in draining the swamp. rich
rewards like road and rail corridors could have been taken on long term lease. maybe
even a indian operated port south of mizoram

instead we did all the hard work and threw away the reward.

This amazing ability has been displayed by our netas umpteen number of times like return of Haji Pir, IWT, Shimla agreement etc...So, surprising about it!!!

Avinash R · Post by **Avinash R** » 18 Oct 2008 09:47

Bangladesh nationals ambushed BSF in Meghalaya's sector
Shillong | Friday, Oct 17 2008 IST

Armed Bangladeshi nationals ambushed Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, guarding the international Indo-Bangla border in Lulong area under Meghalaya sector, a BSF official said today.

The exchange of fire between armed Bangladeshis and BSF started at around 2300 hrs last night, when armed Bangladeshis attempted to sneak inside India.

''They ambushed our troops, but we retaliated and the militants eventually escaped into the Bangladesh side,'' Inspector General of BSF, P K Mishra told UNI here over the phone.

However, there was no report of any casualty on either side.

Last night's firing assumed significance after Meghalaya police arrested Md Habibur Rohman, a student activist of the Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir (BICS), the student wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh on October 3 after he sneaked inside Bholaganj village in Meghalaya from Bangladesh's Sunamganj district.

Rohman, still under police custody, was being grilled by various intelligence agencies to find out his exact motive to sneak into India.

JMB was one of several extremist and terrorist organisations in Bangladesh waging a fratricidal war against the young nation-state with the aim of establishing an Islamic state.

archan · Post by **archan** » 18 Oct 2008 12:02

What is Bangladesh's official stand on these infiltrators? what stops the IA from crossing the border and going after these excuses for humans?

sum · Post by **sum** » 18 Oct 2008 23:10

archan wrote:What is Bangladesh's official stand on these infiltrators? what stops the IA from crossing the border and going after these excuses for humans?

BDs official stand: these were cowherds who had gone into disputed territory to gt their cattle back from evil Indians who smuggle cattle by the millions into their land from our sacred land. The massive influx of poor Indians into BD is causing the local citizens a lot of problems like tha above mentioned one...

{May not be the actual comment but expect something very similar)

Gerard · Post by **Gerard** » 03 Nov 2008 16:08

Myanmar brings warships to explore Bangladesh waters

Escorted by two naval warships, Myanmar has arbitrarily deployed four ships for exploring oil and gas in Bangladesh maritime territory Saturday ignoring Bangladesh Navy warnings. Bangladesh Navy has also positioned three ships at the spot

Victor · Post by **Victor** » 05 Nov 2008 04:58

On the map, St. Martin's Island seems to be more in Myanmar's territory than bangladesh's since it is south of where the international border meets the coast. The disputed exploration area being 50 nm southwest of the island would put it even more into Myanmar's territory and directly offshore from Sittwe. Strange that there is even a dispute here.

kidoman · Post by **kidoman** » 05 Nov 2008 15:56

Gerard wrote:Myanmar brings warships to explore Bangladesh waters
Escorted by two naval warships, Myanmar has arbitrarily deployed four ships for exploring oil and gas in Bangladesh maritime territory Saturday ignoring Bangladesh Navy warnings. Bangladesh Navy has also positioned three ships at the spot

Whose Navy is more powerful currently??

Rye · Post by **Rye** » 05 Nov 2008 17:48

Looks like the talks between Myanmar and BD failed --- from the previous page. India should be joining Myanmar in yanking BD territory away from them..NOW is the time to create border disputes that go against BD's favour. These areas could be given back to them if they promise to behave well and when they acquiesce in other areas...or maybe not even then.

http://forums.bharat-rakshak.com/viewto ... 40#p534213

Dhaka to settle maritime boundary dispute with neighbours
Friday 05 September, 2008
.

Bangladesh and Myanmar experts on sea-related issues met in Dhaka earlier this year and decided to hold another round of talks on the issue in Yangon this year to resolve the dispute.

Officials earlier said maritime border demarcation now appeared crucial as a UN set deadline for lodging maritime claims is to expire in next three years exposing Bangladesh to risks of losing a vast territory in the Bay of Bengal.

Bangladesh needs to lodge claims over its maritime boundary to the International Seabed Authority by 2011 as per the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) by 2011.

sum · Post by **sum** » 05 Nov 2008 19:32

kidoman wrote: Whose Navy is more powerful currently??

Would assume that the BDN(if it is called so) is better placed since they do have the C-802 missiles for their Chinese supplied oldies.
Though myanmar also seems to have lots of Chinese stuff they seem to be of older vintage than even the BD ones!!!

iajdani · Post by **iajdani** » 05 Nov 2008 21:44

"On the map, St. Martin's Island seems to be more in Myanmar's territory than bangladesh's since it is south of where the international border meets the coast"

If that is your way of defining a boundary of a country, then the andaman and nicobar should looks way inside Bangladesh teritory.

Regarding the economic zone by UN, it is 200 nautical miles from the shore and this 50 nautical miles should be within the economic zone of Bangladesh. But dont take it wrong, that disputed territory does fall under 200 nautical miles of Myanmar shore as well. There is a well in place mechanism to solve this kind of dispute thorogh experts opinions not through war ships which myanmar sent. Myanmar will be a complete looser here.. Dont wanna compare military strength here...
Bangladesh is taking care of more than 10 countries in the world where Bangladeshi soldiers are deployed, Few of them already taken Bengali as one of their national laguages (India can dream of it).

sugriva · Post by **sugriva** » 05 Nov 2008 21:50

Bangladesh is taking care of more than 10 countries in the world where Bangladeshi soldiers are deployed, Few of them already taken Bengali as one of their national languages (India can dream of it).

Care to elaborate?

Rahul M · Post by **Rahul M** » 05 Nov 2008 21:52

If that is your way of defining a boundary of a country, then the andaman and nicobar should looks way inside Bangladesh teritory.

by any happy chance, do you teach geography at some place ?

Rye · Post by **Rye** » 05 Nov 2008 22:01

Time is ripe for India to take over some BD nautical territory along with Myanmar -- if BD wants to be a terrorist PITA for India, they can pay for it by losing more and more of their territory to Myanmar....India should assist its buddy Myanmar in causing pain to BD in a major way. BD needs to pay for all its terrorism against India in the past years, with paki encouragement.

Rahul M · Post by **Rahul M** » 05 Nov 2008 22:04

the point is not capability but intent. as long as BD intends to be the proverbial PITA and GoI is ready to go along with it, nothing of the sort will happen.

Mahendra · Post by **Mahendra** » 05 Nov 2008 23:22

sugriva wrote:
Bangladesh is taking care of more than 10 countries in the world where Bangladeshi soldiers are deployed, Few of them already taken Bengali as one of their national languages (India can dream of it).

Care to elaborate?

Delhi
mumbai
bangalore, Kerala
Hyderabad
Guwahati
Lahore
Djakarta
White Chapel
Bethnal Green
Brick Lane

If that is your way of defining a boundary of a country, then the andaman and nicobar should looks way inside Bangladesh teritory.

What next? demands that India should hand over Chandrayan to Bangladesh just because the moon is visible from Dhaka?

mods please invite this janaab to the Benis dhaaga

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 06 Nov 2008 02:39

iajdani wrote:"On the map, St. Martin's Island seems to be more in Myanmar's territory than bangladesh's since it is south of where the international border meets the coast"

If that is your way of defining a boundary of a country, then the andaman and nicobar should looks way inside Bangladesh teritory.

Regarding the economic zone by UN, it is 200 nautical miles from the shore and this 50 nautical miles should be within the economic zone of Bangladesh. But dont take it wrong, that disputed territory does fall under 200 nautical miles of Myanmar shore as well. There is a well in place mechanism to solve this kind of dispute thorogh experts opinions not through war ships which myanmar sent. Myanmar will be a complete looser here.. Dont wanna compare military strength here...
Bangladesh is taking care of more than 10 countries in the world where Bangladeshi soldiers are deployed, Few of them already taken Bengali as one of their national laguages (India can dream of it).

I just want my money back which GOI forced me to spend on feeding many millions of Bangledeshi from 1970-1972.

ShakilAnam · Post by **ShakilAnam** » 06 Nov 2008 07:59

Prem wrote:
iajdani wrote:"On the map, St. Martin's Island seems to be more in Myanmar's territory than bangladesh's since it is south of where the international border meets the coast"

If that is your way of defining a boundary of a country, then the andaman and nicobar should looks way inside Bangladesh teritory.

Regarding the economic zone by UN, it is 200 nautical miles from the shore and this 50 nautical miles should be within the economic zone of Bangladesh. But dont take it wrong, that disputed territory does fall under 200 nautical miles of Myanmar shore as well. There is a well in place mechanism to solve this kind of dispute thorogh experts opinions not through war ships which myanmar sent. Myanmar will be a complete looser here.. Dont wanna compare military strength here...
Bangladesh is taking care of more than 10 countries in the world where Bangladeshi soldiers are deployed, Few of them already taken Bengali as one of their national laguages (India can dream of it).
I just want my money back which GOI forced me to spend on feeding many millions of Bangledeshi from 1970-1972.

Stop talking like clowns (especially Rye!). There won't be any war between Bangladesh and Myanmar any soon, so relax and stop daydreaming about taking BD land, which we all know is under Indian Army plans anyway.

In the remote possibility of a war, which may only happen after 2 or 3 months of failed diplomacy, there will be US soldiers (remember, that's post election for both US and BD) deployed along BD-Myanmar border. You can be sure of that. Now don't assume Obama is a pacifist and won't further US interests in Asia - having US soldiers stationed near South Asia has been one of the foremost long-sought US plan. And if you've been wondering why the heck BD will ever do that, just realize that BD can't always fight the aggressive hegemonistic forces of India, Pakistan Myanmar and China (the countries which have troubled us in the past and have the potential to trouble us in the future) alone and inviting US forces would be the only option left. That's bad news for India and China (US forces would be a pain in the troubled NE).We're unfortunate to be in this geographic position between two large hegemonies, but we'll have to fight the fight for the lives of our loved ones.

Admin notice: ShakilAnam, We do not encourage language like "Stop talking like clowns" on this forum. Consider this an informal warning. You are free to disagree with anyone but it is not an excuse to call everyone names...thanks, archan

shiv · Post by **shiv** » 06 Nov 2008 08:30

iajdani wrote: Bangladesh is taking care of more than 10 countries in the world where Bangladeshi soldiers are deployed, Few of them already taken Bengali as one of their national laguages (India can dream of it).

My aunt slept with an important man in Bangladesh and the entire government of Bangladesh are now my cousins.

The problem with my statement is that I cold be talking crap, but how will you disprove it?

Ar best you have to ask me to prove it, and I will say "Ha Ha ha! You are worried now"

Boss this is the same rubbish you are resorting to.

I am reminded of the time I once found a pork tapeworm in my motions and I wanted to kill the worm. The worm said, "Don't kill me - I know all the holy scriptures". I said "Prove it" and I am still waiting for the worm to prove it - sitting and watching crap.

I seem to be doing the same thing here. I am looking at crap, and I am asking you to please put some names and numbers to your tall claim above so that I can be jealous - or else please tuck your tail between your legs and get the hell out of here.

Rye · Post by **Rye** » 06 Nov 2008 08:32

Shakilanam wrote:

blah blah <snip>

ooh, the unfriendly neighbourhood BD citizen is back here on this thread again. Wonder how long he will last this time around. I am not going to bother responding to this troll...However, it looks like BD is going to be the next geopolitical hooker in the neighbourhood...charging only discount rate to all johns, BD is going for a much cheaper rate per hour than Pakistan (with uncle sam folding up his trousers to get ready to get into bed with BD), if we are to believe that post, which has the same delusional qualities as pure pakhashish posts.

Victor · Post by **Victor** » 06 Nov 2008 08:35

This is so typical of BD. They could go dig for gas in their own patch but no, they had to stop Myanmar from doing so in theirs--I won't eat my banana and won't let you eat your's either. They are looking stupid for having sent the whole BD navy to one little rig while Myanmar has shown b@lls in treating BD delaying tactics with contempt and forcing the issue. Interesting possibilities ahead.

Sadler · Post by **Sadler** » 06 Nov 2008 08:54

iajdani wrote:"On the map, St. Martin's Island seems to be more in Myanmar's territory than bangladesh's since it is south of where the international border meets the coast"

If that is your way of defining a boundary of a country, then the andaman and nicobar should looks way inside Bangladesh teritory.

Regarding the economic zone by UN, it is 200 nautical miles from the shore and this 50 nautical miles should be within the economic zone of Bangladesh. But dont take it wrong, that disputed territory does fall under 200 nautical miles of Myanmar shore as well. There is a well in place mechanism to solve this kind of dispute thorogh experts opinions not through war ships which myanmar sent. Myanmar will be a complete looser here.. Dont wanna compare military strength here...
Bangladesh is taking care of more than 10 countries in the world where Bangladeshi soldiers are deployed, Few of them already taken Bengali as one of their national laguages (India can dream of it).

Keep it up. A bit more hot air from you, porkis breaking wind a bit more (eating grass will do that to ya), global warming and bangadesh goes poof! Know what i mean?

BTW, isn't Bengali an Indian language? So, the credit really goes to India, dont it?
(https://www.cia.gov/library/publication ... os/in.html)

sugriva · Post by **sugriva** » 06 Nov 2008 09:16

Hmm..
So if I read Shakil-Mian's posts correctly, the BD gameplan is to allow US basing rights at Cox Bazaar, a long standing demand of Unkil actually, if they are pushed to the wall. Which explains Lutyenabad's reluctance to act on BD land.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 06 Nov 2008 09:26

BD is still smarting over the fact New Moore Island was abducted by the indian navy
all those years back. one little corvette dispatched to the scene and up goes the white
flag.

thats because no 'secular' media to hound the GOI in the high seas

we do
what we want out there...its our backyard and we are the biggest dog in it.

skher · Post by **skher** » 06 Nov 2008 19:53

Re-posting from Archive:

http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/Default.aspx

NATIVE RESIDENTS and the general public of Andaman & Nicobar Islands on Tuesday organised a rally at Jantar Mantar to draw attention of the Prime Minister on the issue of reservation of employment for the Islanders.

They also sought preservation of the ecology and environment of the Islands being damaged by intruders.

The points they raised were: Re-introduction of Domicile Condition as has been provided in the past by Ministry of Home Affairs and formation of separate Civil Service Commission exclusively for A&N Islands; Evolving a mechanism to identify and evict illegal intruders, poachers, immigrants, specially Bangladeshi nationals, and encroachers upon Forest/Revenue land and Introduction of Inner Line Permit system.

The Forum also drew attention of the central government that carelessness being adopted by the A&N Administration in regard to preservation of rare species of flora and fauna too. The protest was held under the aegis of the Island Protection Forum, a non-political organization.

This is fishy.....why go so far?Many states come before remote A&N.

What is making the Navy/ICG's job of deporting the intruders difficult?

P.S.:Resolving the India-BD border dispute is tricky because the WB state govt. doesn't want to have a firmed up Int'l border...perhaps it still hopes for a re-unification.
dumb question: Can't we resolve a majority of the issue just by trading each other's enclaves? seems to be a simple solution.

SRoy · Post by **SRoy** » 07 Nov 2008 20:33

skher wrote: P.S.:Resolving the India-BD border dispute is tricky because the WB state govt. doesn't want to have a firmed up Int'l border...perhaps it still hopes for a re-unification.
dumb question: Can't we resolve a majority of the issue just by trading each other's enclaves? seems to be a simple solution.

Of course a dumb question.

Are you really naive or pretending to be so?

Anyway...quick facts for you (and noobs like you).

1. Fencing of border does not depends on the state govt.s wish or pleasure. On the other hand WB govt. has precisely requested this..i.e. asked for the fence to be erected all along. If center wishes the border fence will come up in a fortnight.

2. Your hint re-unification with the backing reasoning is as sound as open Wagha post being a preclude to unification of Punjab.

3. Trading of enclaves has been a long standing Indian demand. Don't lay the blame on Bengal if Delhi does not have the balls to back up diplomacy with guns.

Technical problems that you should ponder upon.

Exchange of enclaves is long way off. First you need to figure out rehabilitation of families that have their courtyards and house lying on either side of international border.

Finally, it will do some good if BSF is thrown out and IB patrolling along BD border is entrusted to the Army. The Army jawans do not sell themselves for few hundred rupees.

Stan_Savljevic · Post by **Stan_Savljevic** » 08 Nov 2008 08:23

A Korean company hired by Myanmar to explore for oil and gas in disputed waters in the Bay of Bengal is withdrawing, a senior Bangladesh foreign ministry official said on Friday.

“The Daewoo-Myanmar company, a South Korean firm appointed by Myanmar for oil and gas exploration in the Bay of Bengal, has started the process of withdrawal from areas Bangladesh claims to be her territorial water,” said Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Foreign Affairs adviser (minister). “The government of the Republic of Korea and the Daewoo Company informed us that the dismantling process had begun, which might take a few days to complete,” he told Reuters. Iftekhar said Bangladesh still hoped for a peaceful resolution of the dispute in the Bay, where both countries have deployed navy ships. Dhaka has noted the issue to China, a friend of both.

In Yangon, a Foreign Ministry official said on Thursday Myanmar had only “paused” in its exploration activities in the disputed waters. “We don’t have any reason to change our stance on this matter because it is located in our exclusive economic zone,” said the Foreign Ministry official, who declined to be identified. “We will continue it soon and move somewhere else within our zone when it’s finished,” he said of the exploration work.

Meanwhile, the head of Bangladesh’s army-backed interim government, Fakhruddin Ahmed, held a meeting on Thursday with the armed forces chiefs and foreign ministry officials to take stock of the situation. Iftekhar said the meeting underscored Bangladesh’s “strong resolve” to protect sovereign territory, including in the Bay. Yangon summoned the Bangladesh ambassador on Sunday to protest against Dhaka’s actions, after Dhaka had done the same for Yangon’s envoy to lodge a protest over Myanmar’s moves.

A Bangladesh diplomatic mission led by Foreign Secretary Touhid Hossain is in Yangon to discuss the issue, ministry officials said. Bangladesh was also in contact with some diplomats, including the Chinese ambassador in Dhaka and Bangladeshi ambassadors abroad, trying to find a solution, foreign ministry officials said. China’s foreign ministry on Thursday urged both countries to take measures to resolve the dispute amicably. Bangladesh and Myanmar have been holding talks for years to settle their claims in the Bay of Bengal. Technical delegations from both sides were scheduled to meet in Dhaka on November 16 and 17 to discuss maritime boundary demarcation, officials said.

http://thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=145437

Avinash R · Post by **Avinash R** » 08 Nov 2008 12:29

xpost Centre firm on sealing Indo-Bangla border

Gerard · Post by **Gerard** » 09 Nov 2008 07:35

Myanmar building up troops on border

RajeshA · Post by **RajeshA** » 09 Nov 2008 14:23

Gerard wrote:Myanmar building up troops on border

Tension between Bangladesh and Myanmar intensified Friday as Myanmar started reinforcing border troops after talks in Myanmar over disputed waters in the Bay of Bengal failed.

This also prompted Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) to be on alert at strategic points in Bandarban and Cox's Bazar districts.

According to sources in BDR, the paramilitary forces have been put on alert in Rezu, Chakdhala, Asadtali, Fultali, Lebuchhari, Dhumdhum, Amtali, Tamru and Ukhia borders in the two districts.

Bangladesh Navy intelligence gathered information Thursday that Myanmar had begun mobilising ground troops near the Naf river but the mobilisation was not visible. Then the Navy alerted the BDR.

BDR sources yesterday said since Myanmar continued reinforcing troops along its border with Bangladesh, Bangladesh has also taken appropriate steps as a precautionary measure.

Local sources said BDR also alerted people living in the border areas apprehending untoward incidents. A number of schools in the areas were vacated and BDR troops took position there.

The dispute emerged after Myanmar started oil and gas exploration last week in a stretch of sea claimed by Bangladesh. Bangladesh deployed naval ships to the area and simultaneously sent a diplomatic team to Myanmar seeking to resolve the issue through negotiations.

Officials claimed that the meeting ended without any resolution but Bangladesh notified Myanmar authorities its claim on the territory. Bangladesh was in good terms with the Myanmar authorities until this dispute emerged.

In 1991, Myanmar had driven more than 250,000 Rohingyas into Bangladesh creating a war-like situation between the two countries. Bangladesh gave shelter to the Rohingyas and through diplomatic moves made Myanmar agree to take them back.

But repatriation of them remains slow and Bangladesh still has several thousand refugees on its soil.

Our Bandarban correspondent quoting Naikkhangchhari UNO Nowab Aslam Habib reports: Tension built up as Myanmar forces mobilised along the border. No untoward incident in Naikkhangchhari was reported, he said.

A defence source said BDR is unable to keep a close watch on 173km-long remote and hilly border area. BDR has only five watchtowers in that long stretch of border. Following the 1991 incident with Myanmar, BDR recommended increasing the number of towers there but there was no follow up.

Locals alleged that the Nasaka, border force of Myanmar, shot four Bangladeshis dead near the border last Sunday. Agitated people on Friday captured two Myanmar citizens, Mohammad and Azizul Haq, at Rezu-Amtali border areas. They are now under BDR's custody.

To review the situation, an eight-member high-level BDR team led by Chittagong Sector Commander Colonel Akhtar visited Lembuchhari and Chakdhala border areas of Naikkhangchhari.

Meanwhile, sources said the situation in the Bay of Bengal remains unchanged. There was no exploration activities for the second day yesterday but the Myanmar ships remain anchored 55km southwest at 227 degrees from St Martin's Island.

The Myanmar ships started exploration activities on November 1 ignoring Bangladesh Navy warnings of trespassing on Bangladesh waters. The area is well within Bangladesh's territory and marked as deep-sea blocks 8-13. Bangladesh officially lodged protest before Myanmar ambassador last Sunday. Myanmar also protested before the Bangladeshi ambassador in Myanmar the same day.

Bangladesh later on requested North Korean government to ask Daewoo, which is conducting the exploration for Myanmar, to stop its activities in the Bay. Bangladesh also requested Myanmar's closest ally China to ask Myanmar to quit Bangladeshi waters till the maritime boundary is marked as per the UN guideline.

On Thursday, China suggested that Bangladesh and Myanmar settle their dispute through friendly negotiations, apparently stepping back from taking any measure.

"We hope the countries will settle it through equal and friendly negotiations and maintain a stable bilateral relationship. As their friend, China will contribute in an appropriate manner," said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang at a press conference, reports Xinhua.

This is happening in India's backyard. China has forced itself onto Bangladesh to play the role of arbitrator in South Asia, a role which would have been India's. China is telling Bangladesh, that if it wants its security interests preserved, it would have to negotiate with China and give China concessions. On the other hand, China is giving Myanmar a long leash to go about expanding its military influence and browbeat its neighbors without any fear of retaliation, as it is under China's security cover.

India on the other hand is so paralyzed, that it cannot do anything. China is the primary country influencing Myanmar, so Myanmar would look up to Chinese leadership and not heed to what India has to say. So India siding with Myanmar in this dispute would be superfluous. India siding with Bangladesh would mean that the relationship that India had built up over the last decade, even playing second-fiddle to China on this, would come to naught. If India wants to play the role of a neutral mediator, guess what, India is not invited. Bangladesh did not come to India, but went straight to China, because Bangladesh knows, who pulls the strings on this. Should this dispute escalate, Western countries would throw their lot with Bangladesh to spite Myanmar, and Myanmar would go running even deeper into the Dragon's embrace, which means further strategic loss to India's interests. So whichever way you look at it, this is India's loss.

This stinks very strongly like something the Chinese have provoked. Myanmar is doing this at the behest of the Chinese, and the Bangladeshis are walking into the trap.

India would have to give this new turn of events some serious thought. This should also be something decisive. The most optimal outcome would be if those officers of the Myanmar junta, who are responsible for this event, are demoted or otherwise shunt out from decision-making, allowing other leaders to take up the mantle. Another course of action would be for India to completely rethink our strategy of appeasement of military junta in Myanmar, and forcing a people's revolution there with the help of the West. If Chinese influence is growing there by leaps and bounds, then India's current strategy is is bound for doom anyway.

This is turning very serious indeed. This is a very forceful entry of the Chinese into the South Asian Theater, otherwise India would be losing sway in all countries of South Asia, be it Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, or Sri Lanka. The Chinese mean business, and India better learn to do things differently.

The Chinese may have decided to stoke this new conflict, so that when Obama is in the White House, the Myanmar-Bangladesh Conflict becomes the first crisis on his hands. He would have to turn to the Chinese to influence the Myanmarese to back off. With the side-effect, that the Chinese again prove to the USA, that they are the prime power in the whole of Asia, even in the South Asian region, and that Obama should not see India as a credible counter-weight as Bush used to see India.

Rye · Post by **Rye** » 09 Nov 2008 17:14

deleted. ranting pointlessly.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 09 Nov 2008 17:40

DNA India

Illegal immigrants not in Assam probe focus
Anil Anand
Saturday, November 08, 2008 02:16 IST

There’s still no evidence of Huji-Ulfa link

NEW DELHI: Investigations into the recent serial blasts in Assam seem to be heading nowhere as agencies are under pressure to tread “guardedly” on the possible involvement of Bangladeshi illegal immigrants.

A high-level home ministry meeting reviewed security-related issues in the northeast this week but the sensitive illegal immigrants issue did not find mention due to “political compulsions”. Home secretary Madhukar Gupta deflected queries on the issue by saying, “We have repeatedly stated in Parliament what we have to say on the subject”.

Despite preliminary reports of the Bangladesh-based Harkat-ul-Jehadi’s (Huji’s) involvement in the blasts, with strong possibility of the Ulfa backing it, both the central and Assam security agencies have reportedly failed to find any tangible proof of this tie-up.

Groping in the dark, the state investigating agencies have instead shifted focus on some Bodoland militant groups possibly being the Huji’s local collaborators, a senior security official said.

The first signs of Pakistan backed Huji’s links with Ulfa emerged in 1998. However, conclusive proof of this linkage was found in 2003 after the arrest and interrogation of some Huji militants.

Interestingly, the high level meeting chaired by National Security Adviser MK Narayanan reportedly admitted total failure of the intelligence network in the entire northeast region. The Guwahati blasts - preceded by similar blasts in Tripura and Manipur - exposed the chinks in the network.

The decision of the security think-tank to set up an inter-state coordination group for intelligence gathering and dissemination in the northeast states on the one hand and between the states and the Centre on the other bears testimony to the prevailing deficient system. This would be in addition to the existing intelligence set-up in all the eight states of the region, Gupta said.

The serial blasts of Assam, Manipur and Tripura have also set a rethinking among the security agencies on how to counter the new challenges in the hitherto insurgency hit region. “The blasts have added a new dimension in the region that was earlier engulfed by insurgency alone,” admitted Gupta after the high-powered meeting.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 09 Nov 2008 17:42

we are no better than pakistan in some matters. issues like national security are run
based on "political compulsions". there is no hope that justice will be done or the truth
be found.

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 09 Nov 2008 20:58

Plenty of such reports, including CNN:

Myanmar troop build-up on Bangladesh's border

News Desk
The Daily Star
Publication Date: 09-11-2008

Tension between Bangladesh and Myanmar intensified Friday as Myanmar started reinforcing border troops after talks in Myanmar over disputed waters in the Bay of Bengal failed.

This also prompted Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) to be on alert at strategic points in Bandarban and Cox's Bazar districts.

According to sources in BDR, the paramilitary forces have been put on alert in Rezu, Chakdhala, Asadtali, Fultali, Lebuchhari, Dhumdhum, Amtali, Tamru and Ukhia borders in the two districts.

Bangladesh Navy intelligence gathered information Thursday that Myanmar had begun mobilising ground troops near the Naf river but the mobilisation was not visible. Then the Navy alerted the BDR.

BDR sources yesterday said since Myanmar continued reinforcing troops along its border with Bangladesh, Bangladesh has also taken appropriate steps as a precautionary measure.

Local sources said BDR also alerted people living in the border areas apprehending untoward incidents. A number of schools in the areas were vacated and BDR troops took position there.

The dispute emerged after Myanmar started oil and gas exploration last week in a stretch of sea claimed by Bangladesh. Bangladesh deployed naval ships to the area and simultaneously sent a diplomatic team to Myanmar seeking to resolve the issue through negotiations.

Officials claimed that the meeting ended without any resolution but Bangladesh notified Myanmar authorities its claim on the territory. Bangladesh was in good terms with the Myanmar authorities until this dispute emerged.

In 1991, Myanmar had driven more than 250,000 Rohingyas into Bangladesh creating a war-like situation between the two countries. Bangladesh gave shelter to the Rohingyas and through diplomatic moves made Myanmar agree to take them back.

But repatriation of them remains slow and Bangladesh still has several thousand refugees on its soil.

Our Bandarban correspondent quoting Naikkhangchhari UNO Nowab Aslam Habib reports: Tension built up as Myanmar forces mobilised along the border. No untoward incident in Naikkhangchhari was reported, he said.

A defence source said BDR is unable to keep a close watch on 173km-long remote and hilly border area. BDR has only five watchtowers in that long stretch of border. Following the 1991 incident with Myanmar, BDR recommended increasing the number of towers there but there was no follow up.

Locals alleged that the Nasaka, border force of Myanmar, shot four Bangladeshis dead near the border last Sunday. Agitated people on Friday captured two Myanmar citizens, Mohammad and Azizul Haq, at Rezu-Amtali border areas. They are now under BDR's custody.

To review the situation, an eight-member high-level BDR team led by Chittagong Sector Commander Colonel Akhtar visited Lembuchhari and Chakdhala border areas of Naikkhangchhari.

Meanwhile, sources said the situation in the Bay of Bengal remains unchanged. There was no exploration activities for the second day yesterday but the Myanmar ships remain anchored 55km southwest at 227 degrees from St Martin's Island.

The Myanmar ships started exploration activities on November 1 ignoring Bangladesh Navy warnings of trespassing on Bangladesh waters. The area is well within Bangladesh's territory and marked as deep-sea blocks 8-13. Bangladesh officially lodged protest before Myanmar ambassador last Sunday. Myanmar also protested before the Bangladeshi ambassador in Myanmar the same day.

Bangladesh later on requested North Korean government to ask Daewoo, which is conducting the exploration for Myanmar, to stop its activities in the Bay. Bangladesh also requested Myanmar's closest ally China to ask Myanmar to quit Bangladeshi waters till the maritime boundary is marked as per the UN guideline.

On Thursday, China suggested that Bangladesh and Myanmar settle their dispute through friendly negotiations, apparently stepping back from taking any measure.

"We hope the countries will settle it through equal and friendly negotiations and maintain a stable bilateral relationship. As their friend, China will contribute in an appropriate manner," said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang at a press conference, reports Xinhua.

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 09 Nov 2008 21:01

Bangladesh Boosts Troop Presence On Myanmar Border

alks between the two countries have failed to resolve the dispute, which began six days ago when Myanmar instructed the Korean company Daewoo International Corp. (047050.SE) to begin drilling in a disputed mineral-rich area.

Bangladesh says it has had assurances from the company and the South Korean government that work is winding up, but Myanmar, which has discovered huge reserves of natural gas in the Bay of Bengal, insists its exploration work is legal.

More talks between the two nations are due to be held in Dhaka on Nov. 16 and 17.

Tensions flared when Myanmar sent warships to support Daewoo drilling some 50 kilometers south of Bangladesh's Saint Martin Island.

Bangladesh immediately deployed four warships to the area.

Rye · Post by **Rye** » 09 Nov 2008 23:58

RajeshA wrote:

The Chinese may have decided to stoke this new conflict, so that when Obama is in the White House, the Myanmar-Bangladesh Conflict becomes the first crisis on his hands. He would have to turn to the Chinese to influence the Myanmarese to back off. With the side-effect, that the Chinese again prove to the USA, that they are the prime power in the whole of Asia, even in the South Asian region, and that Obama should not see India as a credible counter-weight as Bush used to see India.

Rajesh saar, Definitely a possibility. Bangladesh is a spoiler in the neighbourhood, and getting their ass kicked by Myanmar may not be a bad idea. India must helpfully suggest that Bangladesh yield to all of Myanmar's demands. If BDesh insists on bringing other outside parties to this family brawl, then India and Myanmar Navies can work on keeping the peace in their respective waters right up to the borders of BD's international legal boundaries on the waters of the Bay of Bengal.

Another possibility is that Bangladesh is instigating this trouble with Myanmar at the behest of some other power that has a beef with Myanmar. Bangladesh has reverted to being the Pakistan to India's East (as they once used to be). India needs to carve a friendly country in the CHT to connect to the NE directly, so be independent of goodwill of others in the neighbourhood forever.

JMT

Tilak · Post by **Tilak** » 10 Nov 2008 00:33

STATUE PROTEST

STATUE PROTEST: Bangladeshi students from an Islamic seminary (madrassa) use ropes as they attempt to pull down sculptures of folk singers standing near Zia International Airport on the outskirts of Dhaka yesterday. Authorities were forced to remove new decorations at the international airport after Muslim protesters threatened to destroy them, police said. Officials had commissioned the country’s best-known sculptor, Mrinal Haq, to produce statues of five local folk singers to cheer up the decidedly drab complex. But thousands of Muslims said the sculptures erected were idols – which are strictly forbidden in Islam – and had threatened to attack the artwork with power tools

.. Its about time Indian neta, babu and pandus wake up and smell the coffee..

RajeshA · Post by **RajeshA** » 10 Nov 2008 03:00

Rye wrote:RajeshA wrote:

The Chinese may have decided to stoke this new conflict, so that when Obama is in the White House, the Myanmar-Bangladesh Conflict becomes the first crisis on his hands. He would have to turn to the Chinese to influence the Myanmarese to back off. With the side-effect, that the Chinese again prove to the USA, that they are the prime power in the whole of Asia, even in the South Asian region, and that Obama should not see India as a credible counter-weight as Bush used to see India.
Rajesh saar, Definitely a possibility. Bangladesh is a spoiler in the neighbourhood, and getting their ass kicked by Myanmar may not be a bad idea. India must helpfully suggest that Bangladesh yield to all of Myanmar's demands. If BDesh insists on bringing other outside parties to this family brawl, then India and Myanmar Navies can work on keeping the peace in their respective waters right up to the borders of BD's international legal boundaries on the waters of the Bay of Bengal.

Another possibility is that Bangladesh is instigating this trouble with Myanmar at the behest of some other power that has a beef with Myanmar. Bangladesh has reverted to being the Pakistan to India's East (as they once used to be). India needs to carve a friendly country in the CHT to connect to the NE directly, so be independent of goodwill of others in the neighbourhood forever.

JMT

There are of course many possibilities about who could be the real puppet masters. Also the media would be representing only a particular PoV, so one couldn't take everything at face value. However there will be some events in the story, which would still give clues. One should stay open-minded.

Having said that, I wouldn't have a problem kicking some Bangledeshi a$$, if India is the one doing the kicking. If it was India's influence which was causing the Myanmarese to create some trouble to the Bangladeshis, it would have been a great situation. But here the puppet master is China, so regardless of the fact that Bangladeshis are the ones under pressure, in the end, China is playing this game not with Bangladesh, but with India and USA.

I have a strong feeling that it is Myanmar playing to the tune of other powers, i.e. China, otherwise Bangladesh would not panic and go running to the Chinese requesting them to put a stop to Myanmarese aggressive attitude. The Bangladeshis are the ones asking for a deescalation. That is not usually how a trouble-maker would act.

Bangladesh is not necessarily afraid of Myanmar but of the power behind the fist, of China.

This follows a well-tested Chinese strategy. Use a proxy to create a problem and pressure, then force the West to turn to China to help in the deescalation of the problem. For that China's cooperation for peace is acknowledged by the West, and West becomes dependent on China. That is so with North Korea on proliferation, with Sudan on Darfur, with Pakistan on boxing India, and now with Myanmar on Bangladesh.

This time we may have to save Bangladesh's a$$ in order to kick it later ourselves.

ShakilAnam · Post by **ShakilAnam** » 10 Nov 2008 03:50

Rye wrote:RajeshA wrote:

The Chinese may have decided to stoke this new conflict, so that when Obama is in the White House, the Myanmar-Bangladesh Conflict becomes the first crisis on his hands. He would have to turn to the Chinese to influence the Myanmarese to back off. With the side-effect, that the Chinese again prove to the USA, that they are the prime power in the whole of Asia, even in the South Asian region, and that Obama should not see India as a credible counter-weight as Bush used to see India.
Rajesh saar, Definitely a possibility. Bangladesh is a spoiler in the neighbourhood, and getting their ass kicked by Myanmar may not be a bad idea. India must helpfully suggest that Bangladesh yield to all of Myanmar's demands. If BDesh insists on bringing other outside parties to this family brawl, then India and Myanmar Navies can work on keeping the peace in their respective waters right up to the borders of BD's international legal boundaries on the waters of the Bay of Bengal.

Another possibility is that Bangladesh is instigating this trouble with Myanmar at the behest of some other power that has a beef with Myanmar. Bangladesh has reverted to being the Pakistan to India's East (as they once used to be). India needs to carve a friendly country in the CHT to connect to the NE directly, so be independent of goodwill of others in the neighbourhood forever.

JMT

Dear Rye, there are so many things to learn from the map - please check where CHT is located and enlighten yourself. India liberating CHT or BD liberating NE, both of which are really stupid plans to say the least, will just add more fuel to the ongoing fire in the region, which is good for none other than China which has so much to gain from an unstable northeastern South Asia. As for the other conspiracy theories postulated by you, laughable. BD does not have enough resources to play a regional game. It is still quite busy getting out of it's economic and political troubles, and the Burmese aggression is too much of a burden at the moment; so it is not at all intelligent to say BD is behind everything.

nkumar · Post by **nkumar** » 10 Nov 2008 04:01

ShakilAnam wrote: India liberating CHT or BD liberating NE, both of which are really stupid plans to say the least.

Pray also enlighten us about the method BD is going to employ to liberate NE from India. Crossing under the fence and then using womb terror ??

ShakilAnam · Post by **ShakilAnam** » 10 Nov 2008 04:08

Tilak wrote:STATUE PROTEST

STATUE PROTEST: Bangladeshi students from an Islamic seminary (madrassa) use ropes as they attempt to pull down sculptures of folk singers standing near Zia International Airport on the outskirts of Dhaka yesterday. Authorities were forced to remove new decorations at the international airport after Muslim protesters threatened to destroy them, police said. Officials had commissioned the country’s best-known sculptor, Mrinal Haq, to produce statues of five local folk singers to cheer up the decidedly drab complex. But thousands of Muslims said the sculptures erected were idols – which are strictly forbidden in Islam – and had threatened to attack the artwork with power tools
.. Its about time Indian neta, babu and pandus wake up and smell the coffee..

This is not a true story. I don't know where you're getting this and why'd someone make such news. Several Madrasa students cannot take down structures built with public money. Even the army does not have that power.
Even if you aren't in BD and don't know much of what's happening inside, you still can use some logic. Do you think islamic exteremists in pakistan or hindu exteremisists in india have the ability to easily take down some non-islamic monument in islamabad or some mosque in new delhi respectively without a big bashing from the security forces? It is least possible here, as BD is far from being a religion-centered society unlike pakistan and india, and this also reflects in the 3 countries' military forums where you can see the pakis and the indians thrive on religious arguments, which I personally find utterly disgusting. Finally, even if BD people start destroying their own structures, who gives India, or any other country for that matter, the right to interfere? This is the core issue between India and BD at the moment - bullying. You're welcome to visit BD with me and we can go on a mullah hunt to see where the infamous mullahs so often heard and seen in BR are hiding in BD (I'm serious).