New corridor at Bangladesh and Myanmar border, 'dangerous plan' in name of Rohingya Muslims, tension for India due to...
New Delhi: Since Operation Sindoor, the world's attention has been focused on the India-Pakistan border, but something significant is also happening at the northeastern border of the country, namely Bangladesh. Due to the civil war in Myanmar, a large number of Rohingya Muslims have sought refuge in Bangladesh in recent years. Bangladesh is looking for a way to facilitate the return of the Rohingyas to Myanmar. Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited Dhaka in March and proposed the creation of a 'humanitarian corridor' for the return of Rohingya refugees.
The interim government of Bangladesh, led by Muhammad Yunus is moving forward with this project. At first glance, this seems like a matter between Bangladesh and Myanmar, but this corridor could also become a concern for India due to the long border it shares with Myanmar and Bangladesh.
According to a report by Firstpost, Bangladesh's National Security Advisor (NSA) and High Representative for Rohingya Affairs Khalilur Rahman intends to move forward with this corridor without any internal or external consent. Rahman is considered a staunch supporter of the United States, and it is believed that the United States is behind this corridor as well.
Meanwhile, the Rohingya refugees settled in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, have been refusing to return to Rakhine, Myanmar.
The Awami League, the party of Sheikh Hasina, is opposed to the government's decision to create a humanitarian corridor. Their argument is that the authority to make such decisions rests not with the interim government but with an elected one. The Awami League claims that this corridor could be used against the military junta in Myanmar. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has also criticized this. Many organizations are stating that the corridor poses a threat to Bangladesh's sovereignty.
Decisions such as creating a corridor for Myanmar are bound to affect the fragile regional stability of India's neighborhood. Yunus's decision could strengthen the Arakan Army (AA), a rebel group fighting against the junta regime. This will help China increase its influence in Myanmar and will escalate regional instability.
India is in contact with both sides. India has continued discussions with both parties – the junta and rebel groups – to secure its 1,640-kilometer-long border with Myanmar, but this corridor will complicate India's path. Khalilur Rahman's emphasis on a humanitarian corridor amidst political instability in Bangladesh indicates that Washington is working towards this. Recently, a significant cargo from the United States also arrived in Dhaka. This increases the likelihood that the corridor will be used to send weapons to the Arakan Army.
There is also a fear that this corridor will not only be used to send military equipment to rebel groups in Myanmar, but it could also be used by terrorist organizations in Bangladesh for illegal drug trafficking. Myanmar is the largest center for opium cultivation and synthetic drug production. In this context, it is certain that concerns will increase for India along its long border with Myanmar and Bangladesh. This could lead to unrest along India's northeastern borders.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
18 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Celebrate 'Har Ghar Tiranga' with enthusiasm, maintain tricolour's sanctity: Shekhawat
New Delhi, Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Monday exhorted people to take part in the fourth edition of the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign with enthusiasm and stressed the importance of maintaining the national flag's "respect and sanctity" at all times. Celebrate 'Har Ghar Tiranga' with enthusiasm, maintain tricolour's sanctity: Shekhawat During a press conference here, he was asked about past incidents when, during or after a 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign, the Tricolour's dignity was compromised or the national flag code violated knowingly or unknowingly, and whether the government would take steps to put a check on such incidents. "Some of the incidents happen where we see... But we try our best. Earlier also, we tried to educate people and give the message during the campaign that the respect and sanctity of the 'Tiranga' should be maintained," he told reporters. Union Culture Secretary Vivek Aggarwal, who also interacted with reporters, said, preserving the honour of the national flag was "part of the campaign itself". "Besides unfurling and hosting of them , we also educate people about maintaining the national flag code, as the honourable minister said the honour and sanctity of the national flag is to be maintained," he said. For this year's campaign, more than 5 lakh youths have registered as volunteers. They will inspire people to take part in the Tiranga campaign, the ministry said. As part of the campaign, people are asked to hoist or unfurl the national flag at homes, office premises, markets, shops, and other places, and upload "selfies with Tiranga". Shekhawat, when asked how many monuments would be lit up as part of the campaign, said that thematic illumination started from August 2 itself and projection mapping facility was available at 140 monuments and sites. The Archaeological Survey of India, in posts on X, shared images of some of the monuments lit up in tricolour theme. These include the Konark Sun Temple in Odisha, Chandragiri Fort in Andhra Pradesh, Gunavati Group of Temples in Tripura, and the Agra Fort. Before the start of the press conference, a video related to the campaign was played on a big screen. It also contained images of IAF aircraft, Col Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, both of whom had been key faces of the media briefings on Operation Sindoor. Operation Sindoor was carried out in the early hours of May 7 to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack. It led to a four-day military conflict between India and Pakistan that was halted after an understanding was reached between the two sides on May 10. Aggarwal, who made a presentation on the campaign, said school students have sent and are still sending 'rakhis' and letters to Army personnel, in a nod to Operation Sindoor. On August 12, a 'Tiranga Bike Rally' will be taken out from Bharat Madapam to the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium. The next day, a 'Tiranga Concert' will be held in Delhi with a performance by singer Shaan. On August 14, Partition Horrors Remembrance Day will be marked with exhibitions, silent marches in Delhi and Kolkata, Aggaral said. Abhijit Sinha, the Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, and Samir Kumar, Economic Advisor, Ministry of Jal Shakti, also presented details of events to be organised by their ministries. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Time of India
34 minutes ago
- Time of India
Norway-Israel investment exit: World's biggest wealth fund pulls out of 11 firms over Gaza war concerns, cites ‘extraordinary circumstances'
Norway's sovereign wealth fund — the world's largest — has announced the sale of its holdings in 11 Israeli companies, citing the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the broader conflict in the region. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Nicolai Tangen, chief of Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM), which manages the fund, said the decision was taken 'in response to extraordinary circumstances', AFP reported. 'The situation in Gaza is a serious humanitarian crisis. We are invested in companies that operate in a country at war, and conditions in the West Bank and Gaza have recently worsened,' Tangen said in a statement. Known as the oil fund due to its revenue source from Norway's vast energy exports, the sovereign fund is valued at around $1.9 trillion and has investments spread across the globe. The move comes days after Norwegian daily Aftenposten reported that the fund had invested in Israeli Bet Shemesh Engines Holdings, a manufacturer of parts for engines used in Israeli fighter jets. Tangen later confirmed the reports, noting that the stake in the company had even increased after the Gaza offensive began. Following the revelations, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store asked Finance Minister and former Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg to review the matter. NBIM disclosed that at the end of the first half of 2025, it held investments in 61 Israeli companies, of which 11 were not part of its 'equity benchmark index' — a reference portfolio set by Norway's finance ministry to measure the fund's performance. The wealth fund said it decided last week to sell all such off-benchmark holdings in Israeli firms 'as soon as possible'. It also stressed that it has 'long paid particular attention to companies associated with war and conflict', noting that since 2020 it has engaged with over 60 companies on such issues, including 39 linked to the West Bank and Gaza. Monitoring of Israeli firms was stepped up in autumn 2024, NBIM said, and has already led to divestments from several companies.
Economic Times
an hour ago
- Economic Times
Navy's focus on combat readiness ensured ship deployment after Pahalgam attack: Govt to Parliament panel
PTI **EDS: THIRD PARTY IMAGE** In this image released by Defence PRO on Aug. 10, 2025, Indian Navy�s advanced frontline frigate Himgiri (F34) ahead of its commissioning in Visakhapatnam. (Defence PRO via PTI Photo) (PTI08_10_2025_000146A) New Delhi, The Indian Navy's focus on ensuring combat readiness enabled ships to be deployed at sea in the wake of the April 22 terrorist attack, the government has told a parliamentary panel. India launched Operation Sindoor early on May 7 to strike terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack. In light of the "evolving threats and geopolitical dynamics" in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), the Committee of External Affairs has said that it was keen to learn about India's long-term strategy to ensure maritime security and maintain regional report on 'Evaluation of India's Indian Ocean Strategy' by the panel, headed by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, was presented in Parliament on Defence Ministry, in its response to the panel's query, said that "India's long-term strategy in the maritime domain aims to counter threats like piracy, trafficking, illegal fishing, maritime terrorism, natural calamities and complex geopolitical dynamics by pursuing five distinct strategies". Building a combat-ready navy to meet India's future maritime security needs, and deterrence through "capability, posture, and communication of intent" were the other critical points mentioned by the ministry in its response."The focus of the Indian Navy towards ensuring combat readiness, through successful surface, air and sub-surface firings, enabled ships to be deployed for 'Op Sindoor' within 96 hours of the terrorist attack, with hundreds of missiles embarked," the defence ministry told the further said the Navy's focus is on "building credible deterrence by modernising our fleet with capable multi-dimensional platforms while also integrating emerging technologies to monitor and secure critical SLOCs (sea lines of communication) and choke points".Operation Sindoor, carried out in the early hours of May 7, led to a four-day military conflict between India and Pakistan that was halted after an understanding was reached between the two sides on May General of Naval Operations, Vice Admiral A N Pramod, on May 11, said that the Indian Navy's carrier battle group, submarines and aviation assets were immediately deployed at sea with full combat readiness in the aftermath of the Pahalgam naval forces remained forward deployed in the northern Arabian Sea in a "dissuasive and deterrent" posture, with full readiness to strike select targets at sea and on land, including Karachi, at a time of our defence ministry, in its response to the panel, also mentioned India's vision for "shaping a favourable and positive maritime environment to enhance cooperation with maritime forces of friendly nations"."Additionally, IN (Indian Navy) will pursue its efforts to be the preferred security partner and first responder guided by the GoI's (Government of India's) vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement of Security and Growth Across Regions)," it said. Enumerating the key objectives that will guide India's naval and maritime policies in the coming decade, the Defence Ministry also stated that India's naval and maritime policies in the coming decade will be guided by the Indian Navy Vision 2047. "These objectives also reinforce the overarching vision of 'MAHASAGAR', which signifies India's vision to expand its influence and impact globally, using the seas as a conduit," the report says.
