Dhaka views Myanmar, Arakan Army outreach positively

In a development seen as diplomatically significant, Myanmar’s Foreign Minister Than Swe and the Chairman of the United League of Arakan, Twan Mrat Naing, have separately congratulated Bangladesh’s newly appointed Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman – a move Dhaka views positively amid ongoing engagement over the Rohingya crisis.

Diplomatic sources said this is the first time the head of the Arakan Army has sent a formal congratulatory message to a Bangladeshi foreign minister, describing it as an “extraordinary event” that comes in the wake of sustained contacts.

A senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told UNB that the messages reflect confidence in the new Bangladesh government’s approach to pursuing a peaceful resolution of the Rohingya issue through dialogue.

In his message, Than Swe expressed firm commitment to enhancing bilateral relations and strengthening cooperation between Dhaka and Naypyidaw.

Meanwhile, Twan Mrat Naing, who leads the Arakan Army – a key armed group operating in Myanmar’s Rakhine State – conveyed hope for “practical, sustainable and realistic solutions,” building on what he described as existing goodwill. “In your new capacity as the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, I hope you will continue to work with us to find practical, sustainable and realistic solutions. Building on our existing goodwill, we now have an opportunity to chart a new course of friendship between Bangladesh and Arakan,” the source quoted him as saying.

Officials say the twin messages indicate readiness on the part of both Myanmar’s government and the Arakan Army to engage with Dhaka in efforts to resolve the protracted Rohingya crisis.

Bangladesh has maintained communication with both sides. Referring to engagement with the Arakan Army last year, Dr Rahman – then serving as National Security Adviser and High Representative – said Bangladesh, as a sovereign state, would maintain contact with whomever it deems necessary in its national interest. He noted that the Arakan Army controls areas along the border opposite Bangladesh, making communication essential for maintaining stability.

The Rohingya crisis erupted most dramatically in August 2017, when more than 750,000 Rohingya fled violent military crackdowns in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, joining earlier waves from the 1970s and 1990s.

Today, over 1.3 million Rohingyas are sheltering in Bangladesh, primarily in Cox’s Bazar, placing immense pressure on local communities and public services.

Against this backdrop, Dhaka sees the latest diplomatic exchanges as a potential opening to reinvigorate dialogue on one of the region’s most complex humanitarian challenges.

With inputs from UNB