Research Article | | Peer-Reviewed

Bangladesh-Myanmar Border: A Persistent Threat to Bangladesh’s National Security

Received: 8 March 2025     Accepted: 20 March 2025     Published: 29 April 2025
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Abstract

Over the past decade, Bangladesh has made significant strides in economic development, with forecasts indicating continued growth in the years ahead. However, sustaining this progress requires ensuring national security, which has become a top priority for the government. Geopolitically, Bangladesh and Myanmar serve as a critical bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia. Despite having less direct border connectivity with Myanmar compared to India, Bangladesh faces a range of both conventional and non-conventional security threats along this frontier. Among the most pressing issues is the ongoing Rohingya crisis, which has evolved into a matter of global concern, as well as the persistent influx of illegal drugs trafficked from Myanmar into Bangladesh. Arms smuggling along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border is another longstanding threat that has remained unresolved over the years. Additionally, Myanmar's limited cooperation with Bangladesh—exacerbated by its prolonged absence of democratic governance—has further strained bilateral relations. Compounding these challenges is the continuing instability in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, where the Arakan Army's armed struggle against the junta government poses additional security risks for Bangladesh. This article will explore these key issues in depth, along with other related security concerns, by analyzing prominent incidents and developments. Finally, the article will present a set of recommendations aimed at strengthening Bangladesh’s border security and safeguarding national stability and economic prosperity.

Published in Humanities and Social Sciences (Volume 13, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.hss.20251302.22
Page(s) 187-198
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

National Security, Border Security, Rohingya, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Rohingya

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Raju, A. S., Chowdhury, F. S., Upama, S. W., Barmanhriday, K. C. (2025). Bangladesh-Myanmar Border: A Persistent Threat to Bangladesh’s National Security. Humanities and Social Sciences, 13(2), 187-198. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20251302.22

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    ACS Style

    Raju, A. S.; Chowdhury, F. S.; Upama, S. W.; Barmanhriday, K. C. Bangladesh-Myanmar Border: A Persistent Threat to Bangladesh’s National Security. Humanit. Soc. Sci. 2025, 13(2), 187-198. doi: 10.11648/j.hss.20251302.22

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    AMA Style

    Raju AS, Chowdhury FS, Upama SW, Barmanhriday KC. Bangladesh-Myanmar Border: A Persistent Threat to Bangladesh’s National Security. Humanit Soc Sci. 2025;13(2):187-198. doi: 10.11648/j.hss.20251302.22

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  • @article{10.11648/j.hss.20251302.22,
      author = {Ataus Samad Raju and Fouzia Sultana Chowdhury and Sunjida Wadud Upama and Koushik Chandra Barmanhriday},
      title = {Bangladesh-Myanmar Border: A Persistent Threat to Bangladesh’s National Security
    },
      journal = {Humanities and Social Sciences},
      volume = {13},
      number = {2},
      pages = {187-198},
      doi = {10.11648/j.hss.20251302.22},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20251302.22},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.hss.20251302.22},
      abstract = {Over the past decade, Bangladesh has made significant strides in economic development, with forecasts indicating continued growth in the years ahead. However, sustaining this progress requires ensuring national security, which has become a top priority for the government. Geopolitically, Bangladesh and Myanmar serve as a critical bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia. Despite having less direct border connectivity with Myanmar compared to India, Bangladesh faces a range of both conventional and non-conventional security threats along this frontier. Among the most pressing issues is the ongoing Rohingya crisis, which has evolved into a matter of global concern, as well as the persistent influx of illegal drugs trafficked from Myanmar into Bangladesh. Arms smuggling along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border is another longstanding threat that has remained unresolved over the years. Additionally, Myanmar's limited cooperation with Bangladesh—exacerbated by its prolonged absence of democratic governance—has further strained bilateral relations. Compounding these challenges is the continuing instability in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, where the Arakan Army's armed struggle against the junta government poses additional security risks for Bangladesh. This article will explore these key issues in depth, along with other related security concerns, by analyzing prominent incidents and developments. Finally, the article will present a set of recommendations aimed at strengthening Bangladesh’s border security and safeguarding national stability and economic prosperity.
    },
     year = {2025}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Bangladesh-Myanmar Border: A Persistent Threat to Bangladesh’s National Security
    
    AU  - Ataus Samad Raju
    AU  - Fouzia Sultana Chowdhury
    AU  - Sunjida Wadud Upama
    AU  - Koushik Chandra Barmanhriday
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    DO  - 10.11648/j.hss.20251302.22
    T2  - Humanities and Social Sciences
    JF  - Humanities and Social Sciences
    JO  - Humanities and Social Sciences
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    EP  - 198
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-8184
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20251302.22
    AB  - Over the past decade, Bangladesh has made significant strides in economic development, with forecasts indicating continued growth in the years ahead. However, sustaining this progress requires ensuring national security, which has become a top priority for the government. Geopolitically, Bangladesh and Myanmar serve as a critical bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia. Despite having less direct border connectivity with Myanmar compared to India, Bangladesh faces a range of both conventional and non-conventional security threats along this frontier. Among the most pressing issues is the ongoing Rohingya crisis, which has evolved into a matter of global concern, as well as the persistent influx of illegal drugs trafficked from Myanmar into Bangladesh. Arms smuggling along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border is another longstanding threat that has remained unresolved over the years. Additionally, Myanmar's limited cooperation with Bangladesh—exacerbated by its prolonged absence of democratic governance—has further strained bilateral relations. Compounding these challenges is the continuing instability in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, where the Arakan Army's armed struggle against the junta government poses additional security risks for Bangladesh. This article will explore these key issues in depth, along with other related security concerns, by analyzing prominent incidents and developments. Finally, the article will present a set of recommendations aimed at strengthening Bangladesh’s border security and safeguarding national stability and economic prosperity.
    
    VL  - 13
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Natural Science, Port City International University, Chittagong, Bangladesh

  • Department of Natural Science, Port City International University, Chittagong, Bangladesh

  • Department of Natural Science, Port City International University, Chittagong, Bangladesh

  • Department of Natural Science, Port City International University, Chittagong, Bangladesh

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