ADVISORY COMMISSION ON RAKHINE STATE BORDER ISSUES AND THE BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP WITH BANGLADESH Addressing the challenges in Rakhine State requires a strong bilateral relationship between Myanmar and Bangladesh. Events in one country have a profound effect on the other, as demonstrated by the thousands of Muslims from northern Rakhine State who sought refuge in Bangladesh after the violence in late 2016. There are profound developmental and humanitarian needs on both sides of the border, but also opportunities for cooperation that would benefit both countries. The last year has seen some efforts to strengthen bilateral engagement. In September 2016, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina met at the UN General Assembly in New York. In June 2016, the Bangladesh Prime Minister sent her Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque as her Envoy to meet with Aung San Suu Kyi in Naypyitaw. In January 2017, the Myanmar Minister of State for Foreign Affairs U Kyaw Tin visited Dacca, and in July 2017, Myanmar’s National Security Advisor U Thaung Tun also visited Bangladesh. There is significant scope to strengthen the relationship through more regular, structured and substantive bilateral exchanges. The span of issues that both countries can cooperate on is wide: Infrastructure projects, trade promotion, the management of illegal migration, documentation of refugees and IDPs, voluntary return of refugees, preventing human trafficking and drug smuggling, climate change, and security cooperation to combat violent extremism. Existing offers from Bangladesh to work together with Myanmar on these issues should be taken up urgently. Myanmar and Bangladesh have different narratives on the challenges along their shared border. Despite the large numbers who have fled from Myanmar to Bangladesh, the popular perception in Myanmar is that the problem is illegal immigration into Myanmar. There are also different historical narratives about the origin of communities and their population growth. These differences can only be narrowed by dialogue that promotes better mutual understanding, both at the level of the country’s leaders and people-topeople ties. Both countries have a clear mutual interest in cooperation. There are economic opportunities from increased trade. The flow of drugs needs to be stemmed. And, most crucially, joint action is required on security management of the border. FINAL REPORT 59