SECURITY WORRIES FOR NORTHEAST AS ROHINGYA MILITANCY RISES IN BANGLA

Allegations are emerging regarding the supply of arms to Rohingya militant groups operating along the Cox’s Bazar-Chittagong axis.

- ABHINANDAN MISHRA

Intelligence circles have warned of a possible security situation developing in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) and the Rohingya refugee areas of Bangladesh, with Rohingya armed groups apparently being provided arms and ammunition by entities having considerable influence in the recently elected government in Dhaka. The worry is that this may have a direct fallout on India’s Northeast.

Among the individuals seen as influential in the evolving security landscape is Dr Khalilur Rahman, the former National Security Advisor of Muhammad Yunus’ interim government, who was sworn in as the 24th Foreign Minister of Bangladesh in the incumbent BNP government of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. His appointment, in some quarters, is being interpreted as indicative of a leadership cohort viewed as more aligned with Western diplomatic frameworks, particularly those of the United States.

Sections of the strategic and intelligence community have also advanced the view that the political transition in Dhaka bore the hallmarks of externally influenced regime change, with the United States and allied actors exerting sustained pressure during the period leading up to the installation of a caretaker administration under Muhammad Yunus and the removal of the democratically elected Sheikh Hasina government. Within this framework, Khalilur Rahman is seen as having played a pivotal role during the interim phase because of his close ties with Washington.