BD, Myanmar to work together to fight terrorism along border

Bangladesh and Myanmar have agreed to enhance cooperation to contain terrorism and violent extremism along the border areas between the two countries.
Both countries have also observed that economic development could help reduce tension among the two communities in Rakhine State and contribute to resolution to problems.
Bangladesh and Myanmar have reached the two conclusions following the meeting between Foreign Minister HM Mahmood Ali and Myanmar's National Security Adviser Thaung Tun on Sunday night at National Guesthouse Padma.
"We have agreed to work together to stop all sorts of terrorism and violent extremism in border areas and will not allow anyone to work against any country by using our territories," a senior official of the Foreign Ministry told the Daily Observer on Monday.
Thaung Tun, now in Dhaka on a three-day visit, has emphasised the need for enhancing cooperation between Bangladesh and Myanmar in the security sector.
Although both sides did not disclose the talking points, sources said the Myanmar side did not say anything about the repatriation of Myanmar nationals from Bangladesh during the meeting.
Some three lakh Myanmar nationals have been living in a refugee-like-situation in makeshift shelters in Cox's Bazar for years while 33,148 registered refugees from Myanmar have been living in registered camps for several years in the bordering districts.
A Foreign Ministry's release on Monday said that Tun expressed Myanmar's interest to address the differences between the two neighbours through discussions.
Thaung Tun conveyed the Myanmar government's desire to further develop bilateral ties with Bangladesh and expressed happiness over the recently held meetings between defence and border forces, it said.
"The Myanmar authorities were seeking Bangladesh's cooperation to contain terrorism and violent extremism along the border," the official added.
 Foreign Minister Ali reiterated Bangladesh's desire for developing a relationship of trust and mutual benefit with the neighbour and stressed the need for engaging in frank talks to build convergence where there are differences of opinion.
He said Bangladesh maintains a 'zero-tolerance' policy to any activity targeted against neighbours by non-state actors and never allows her territory to be used for any activity inimical to the interest of Myanmar.
The Foreign Minister assured him of continued assistance in security stabilisation in frontier areas.
He also highlighted some aspects of sub-regional cooperation in South Asia and viewed that Bangladesh and Myanmar could derive immense benefits from such cooperation regionally and under Bimstec.
Mahmood Ali reiterated Bangladesh's willingness to deepen cooperation in sectoral areas and expected a positive response from Myanmar to Bangladesh's proposals on energy and transport connectivity.
He recollected how the two countries engaged in the past to repatriate Myanmar refugees back to Rakhine. The Myanmar's National Security Adviser agreed on the importance of commencing bilateral discussion on repatriation of Myanmar residents from Bangladesh.
The two dignitaries appreciated provision of humanitarian support like cyclone shelters and ambulances that Bangladesh has offered for the people of Rakhine State from out of pledged assistance by the Bangladesh Prime Minister.
They found merit in Solar-Home System for households in remote/off-grid areas. Bangladesh offered to install some SHSs in Rakhine.