Bangladesh asks Myanmar to deescalate violence to stop exodus

Bangladesh on Wednesday asked Naypyidaw to immediately deescalate violence in Rakhine state to stop exodus of "affected civilian population" causing on it an "unbearable additional burden" as the foreign office summoned the Myanmar envoy, reports BSS.

"Bangladesh demanded immediate measures from Myanmar to de-escalate the ongoing violence in the Northern Rakhine State and immediate effective measures . . . to stop the ongoing influx of Myanmar nationals into Bangladesh," a foreign office statement said after Myanmar's charge' d affaires Myo Myint Than was called to be handed over a protest note.

It added: "Bangladesh also regretted that appropriate measures for protection of civilian population (Rohingyas) have not been ensured during the military operation (Rakhine) that compelled huge number of desperate people to seek shelter in Bangladesh."

The statement said the fresh influx appeared "unbearable additional burden on Bangladesh" as it was already been hosting around four hundred thousand of Myanmar nationals "who had to leave Myanmar in several rounds in the past owing to communal violence and repeated military operations".

The foreign office simultaneously expressed concern at the reported laying down of anti-personnel land mine close to the zero line of the border by Myanmar security forces.

Bangladesh, the statement said, emphasized on taking immediate and appropriate measures of protection by Myanmar for unarmed civilians of all communities in the Rakhine State regardless of ethnicity and religion so that affected civilians do not need to make desperate attempts to seek shelter in Bangladesh.

"Bangladesh also urged Myanmar to take immediate measures to take back all Myanmar nationals who crossed over to Bangladesh," it said.

According to estimates of UN agencies, over 125,000 affected Myanmar nationals took refuge in Bangladesh and tens of thousands are on their ways since the latest spate of violence erupted in Rakhine on August 25.

The statement said Dhaka told the Myanmar envoy that "Bangladesh must not be the victim of repeated violence and instability in the Rakhine State".