Bangladesh has strongly rejected Myanmar’s recent submissions to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), saying references to the Rohingya as “Bengali” distort history, undermine their identity, and seek to justify atrocities committed during the 2016-17 violence.
In a statement issued by the foreign ministry on Friday evening, Dhaka urged Myanmar and authorities in Rakhine to demonstrate genuine commitment to recognising the Rohingya as an integral part of their society and state, and to facilitate their safe, dignified return with equal rights.
Bangladesh said Myanmar’s portrayal of the Rohingya as illegal migrants before the ICJ is aimed at reinforcing a false narrative of internal security threats to divert attention from atrocity crimes.
The government stressed that the Rohingya are a distinct ethnic group with deep historical roots in Arakan, predating modern borders and the incorporation of the region into the Barman Kingdom in 1785. Their presence is well documented in historical records, colonial demographic accounts, and independent scholarship.
The statement noted that the term “Rohingya” evolved historically from the old Arakan capital Mro‑Haung (Rohang) and was adopted by the community for self‑identification amid systematic marginalisation.
Attempts to portray them as foreigners or recent migrants are inconsistent with historical facts, it said.
Bangladesh highlighted that the Rohingya were part of Myanmar’s political and social life until the 1982 Citizenship Law excluded them on ethno‑religious grounds. Despite marginalisation, they retained voting rights until being fully disenfranchised in the 2015 general elections.
The government accused Myanmar of persistently denying constitutional guarantees, culminating in mass eviction during 2016-17 that rendered the Rohingya stateless.
Dhaka recalled that Myanmar had recognised the Rohingya as “lawful residents of Burma” in the 1978 bilateral repatriation agreement and assured reintegration in subsequent accords.
It said Myanmar’s continued failure for over eight years to create a conducive environment for safe, voluntary return violates bilateral arrangements signed in 2017-18 and may indicate intent to permanently destroy the community.
The government also referred to its protest on July 18, 2023, against Myanmar’s claim that half a million Bangladeshis took refuge in Rakhine during the 1971 Liberation War, noting the absence of any documentary or demographic evidence.
