US General visits Bangladesh amid border tensions

A senior US military officer, Lieutenant General Vowell, is set to visit Bangladesh on Monday. He is the Deputy Commanding General of the US Army Pacific and has extensive military experience. His visit aims to discuss security issues along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border. The growing activities of the Arakan Army in Myanmar's Rakhine state have raised concerns. This group is engaged in conflict with Myanmar’s junta forces. The situation in Rakhine could potentially affect security on the Bangladesh border, leading to worries among Bangladeshi officials. During the visit, Vowell will meet with senior members of the Bangladeshi military in Dhaka. He will be accompanied by other US military officers, including the Military Attaché from the US Embassy. They plan to discuss how the Bangladesh Army can manage the situation near the border. Experts believe that the Arakan Army's military operations could impact Bangladesh. They are focused on capturing key cities in Rakhine State, which may require the army to maintain supply lines through the border region. Meanwhile, India is closely monitoring the developments in Rakhine. The area is significant for India due to its involvement in the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project. This project connects Sittwe Port in Myanmar with Mizoram in India, highlighting the geopolitical importance of the region.