| by Swadesh Roy
( November 12, 2014, Dhaka, Sri Lanka Guardian) Assam and Bangladesh have 262 km border. Every border has two sides like the both side of a coin. One side might be good or lucky and other side is bad. If you toss a coin, the result depends upon luck, it is not in your hand but border issue is not like the toss of a coin. All the borders issues of the world depend on the political atmosphere of two countries. Sometimes, some statesmen make mistake. He or she thinks that, it is the issue of only security so it might be solved by the security forces and they engaged more security forces and took more security measures. However, it never gives them solutions that are up to the mark. On the other hand, if the entire border sharing countries think that it has to be solved through politically they will get more good result. Assam- Bangladesh border is one of the examples of it.
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| Image courtesy: Tehelka |
Seven or eight years back, Assam – Bangladesh border was one of the most dangerous borders of the world but now it is more or less a peaceful border. Fence and security forces are not the rescuers of it; it has been happened by the politics only. Those people who are concerned about the Assam- Bangladesh border they know that, it has been happened only for changing of political atmosphere of Bangladesh under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina. 2001 to 2006 it was one of the hazardous times about the Assam –Bangladesh border. Because, then Bangladesh was the haven for the terrorists of the Assam. They got all kinds of shelter, support and training in Bangladesh by the Bangladesh government provided trainer and the Pakistani trainer. Some sources said that then Pakistani army intelligence ISI opened an office in Bangladesh for supervising training and other assistants to the North East Indian terrorists and the other Islamic militants in Bangladesh. It is a big black part of Bangladesh. Then not only the Assam-Bangladesh border or the border of India-Bangladesh, the entre internal security of Bangladesh went to the dangerous point. Even the sovereignty of Bangladesh went to the danger. At that time it was proved in Bangladesh and India that the internal security of these two countries depends upon the political atmosphere of the two countries. Not only these two countries but also the internal security of any country depends upon the political atmosphere of the entering neighboring countries. However, in South Asia, Pakistan is a rogue country and there is no political force in Pakistan that can save Pakistan form Islamic and own military terrorists. Pakistan is now a self-ruining country despite it is a trouble for this region. So in South Asia except other countries except Pakistan have to be more cautious regarding internal security by making strong political bondage.
Last five years and ten months Bangladesh and India have made a strong and effective friendship. Both the countries leaders have understood that, without political bondage it is not possible to ensure the internal security and the border security. Despite, all the problems border security and internal security are always concern with the neighboring countries internal political will. A remarkable example is now the Indian province West Bengal. Seven or eight years back when the North East Indian border and internal security was under threat then West Bengal border was not in danger point and West Bengal was not cause of any threat for the internal security of Bangladesh. Now, West Bengal is a big threat for the internal security of Bangladesh and the West Bengal is now a haven for the Islamic terrorist of Bangladesh. It is only for the political policy of present West Bengal provincial government. Indian central government has understood it; so they are taking measure against the Islamic terrorists in West Bengal. In spite of that, they will not be successful until the policy of West Bengal provincial government is not changed.
Someone can tell that, despite all, there are some problems in Assam –Bangladesh Border. It is true. But it is also true that there is hardly a border in the world which is hundred percent problems free. Some illegal migration and daily necessity commodity smuggling are common phenomenon in all the borders of the world. It is also remediable but not by the security forces, it has to be solved by the politics. Two countries first have to find out how to decrease this problem. For smuggling, two countries can declared a common economy zone in border area; alternatively, they can make common border markets. In the same way they have to think about illegal migration, for a limited distance from the border two countries can issue border pass for a limited times. All depend on the political will.
In spite of that, there is a hidden problem between Assam and Bangladesh. Some Bangladeshi Islamic groups want to make an Islamic buffer state to take Arakan of Myanmar, Cox’s Bazar of Bangladesh and some part of Assam. However, it is not possible in the present condition because Sheikh Hasina has broken the spinal code of the Islamic militant group. One the other hand Pakistan is a self- destroying country. So if India and Bangladesh march forward on this step in next five to ten years, terrorism and border conflict will be a historical matter in this region.
Swadesh Roy, Executive Editor, The Daily Janakantha, Dhaka, Bangladesh he can be reached swadeshroy@gmail.com
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