Myanmar has deployed more than 2,500 additional troops since September 12 in camps along the Rakhine State and Chin State border in western Burma bordering Bangladesh.
Additional troops and weapons were suddenly deployed under pretext of “suppressing” the Arakan Army, declared a “terrorist group” by the Myanmar government, according to an intelligence agency of Bangladesh.
Security sources said two meetings regarding the security of Rakhine State were held on September 11 and 12 in Myanmar’s capital Naypyitaw, led by a senior general.
The meetings accused the Arakan Army in Rakhine of terrorist activities. Officials present at the meeting decided to deploy additional troops as part of their action against the Arakan Army.
Officers from the three Myanmar armed forces — army, navy, and air force — were present at the meetings.
Bangladesh is concerned about the sudden deployment of armed forces in the border camps of the neighbouring country and Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry has already summoned Myanmar's Ambassador to Dhaka regarding the newly deployed additional troops.
Security officials believe that in the name of suppressing the Arakan Army, Myanmar forces could carry out new killings and torture in Rakhine or Chin state as they did in 2017.
There may be a conspiracy to force the Rohingya or people of other ethnicities of that country into Bangladesh again, which could be a security risk for Bangladesh, they said.
Security analyst Major General (retd) Abdur Rashid told Dhaka Tribune: “The Myanmar government may have thought the overall situation there would be calm after the Rohingyas were forced out.”
But now they are facing various other problems, including separatist movements of various groups, he continued.
“Their [Myanmar] armed forces have suffered casualties because of them [separatist groups]. To control them, Myanmar could suddenly increase its military presence,” he added.
The security expert also said: “Myanmar is not eager to take back the huge numbers of Rohingya people. Due to international pressure, the Myanmar government — which is controlled by the military behind the scenes — may resort to malicious methods to suppress terrorism.
“There is also tension in their politics owing to efforts to approve legislation for reducing the power of the military. The military presence may have been increased to prevent that.
“Whatever the reason, we have to be prepared and keep an eye on Myanmar as our neighbouring country.”
According to a security source in Bangladesh, before the deployment of the new troops, there were a total of 46 battalions under the commander of west Burma in 13 townships and sadars of Rakhine and Chin states.
Myanmar deployed military troops along its border after it launched a crackdown on Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine State in 2017, forcing over 730,000 people to flee to Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is now home to more than a million Myanmar nationals, who live in overcrowded camps in Cox’s Bazar.
