The open classroom discussion titled “Whose Power, Whose Pain: The Complex Realities of Myanmar and the Maritime Border” focused on the ongoing humanitarian crisis faced by fishing communities from Saint Martin’s Island along the Bangladesh–Myanmar maritime border.

Speakers and victims’ families described how hundreds of Bangladeshi fishermen have allegedly been detained, tortured, and imprisoned by the Arakan Army over the past year. Former detainees recounted severe abuse, starvation, forced confessions, and inhumane prison conditions. Families of the detained spoke about economic collapse, emotional trauma, and the absence of state support.

Tanzimuddin Khan emphasized that maritime border issues should not remain hidden behind populist politics. Drawing from Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak’s idea of “Can the Subaltern Speak?”, he argued that marginalized coastal communities must be given visibility and political voice.

Speakers also criticized the perceived indifference of Bangladeshi authorities, questioning why citizens facing cross-border violence and detention receive inadequate protection and support. The event further connected the crisis to broader structural issues, including declining tourism, poverty, weak maritime governance, and the lack of people-centered policies for coastal populations.

Overall, the discussion framed the maritime border not only as a imperialist political zone, but as a space where ordinary people become victims of conflict, state neglect, and regional power struggles.