The history of Myanmar is tumultuous with a myriad of tribes and factions struggling and fighting for decades in the country that is ravaged by the military junta. As a neighbour Bangladesh had to endure the bitter result of those long fights and pogroms. The worst crisis was the plight of Rohingyas who fled to Bangladesh to avoid genocide and the country has been sheltering those hapless people for years despite its poverty and already having the burden of a massive population.

But things are getting worse. The intensity of war has increased in Myanmar. The civil protest is rising. On the other hand, the armed rebel groups are fighting against the military forces. Unlike Rohingyas, who were most unarmed, many are fleeing to Bangladesh and we have even seen members of Myanmar’s armed forces asking for shelter to their counterparts in Bangladesh. 

One may wonder, as this continues and Bangladesh may face retaliation and consequences as the war intensifies in the coming days. People who live in the border area are already living in dangerous conditions and in fear.

Unfortunately, their government cannot give them solace or security. The Awami regime that depends on foreign powers as it completely destroyed the trust in the voting system and thus the backing of the country's people for its policies has shown over the years all they care is power and they can expose the country and its people to extreme risk. 

The Awami League’s policy of submission to India and China simultaneously may create grave danger with this war intensifying. China, who never tried to solve the Rohingya crisis seriously, will back the Myanmar government while India may take the opposite stance for the sake of saving their border and gaining the upper hand in geopolitics.

At the same time the US, who will sooner or later be involved in applying the Burma Act and block China’s hegemony in the territory, may take measures, , as part of their equation, that go against Bangladesh.

The worst consequences will be faced by Bangladeshi people who do not have a government they can trust, it has neither the diplomatic capacity nor will to protect them.

The Boxer: The author is one of the indefatigable working-class Bangladeshis who have been trying to change the fate of the nation but were betrayed by the ruling elites and autocrats. The name is inspired by a character in George Orwell's 1945 novel Animal Farm.