Bangladesh Rejects Myanmar’s Claims on Rohingya Identity at ICJ

The Chronify

January 24, 2026

Bangladesh has firmly dismissed Myanmar’s description of the Rohingya as “Bengalis,” calling it a distortion of history and an attempt to justify past atrocities. Dhaka urged Myanmar to recognise the Rohingya as an integral ethnic group and ensure their safe, dignified return to Rakhine.

Bangladesh has strongly rejected recent submissions made by Myanmar to the International Court of Justice, saying references to the Rohingya as “Bengalis” undermine their identity and distort historical facts.

In a statement issued on Sunday evening, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Myanmar’s claims were aimed at reinforcing a false narrative of illegal migration and internal security threats, while diverting attention from atrocities committed against the Rohingya during the 2016–17 violence.

“The Government of Bangladesh calls upon Myanmar and others having authority over Rakhine to demonstrate a genuine commitment to the recognition of Rohingya as an integral part of their society and State,” the statement said, urging the creation of a conducive environment for their return, reintegration, and equal rights in safety and dignity.

Bangladesh emphasised 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, it said, is documented in historical records, colonial-era demographic accounts, and independent academic research.

The statement explained that the term “Rohingya” evolved from the historic Arakan capital Mro-Haung (Rohang) and was later adopted by the community for self-identification amid systematic marginalisation. Any attempt to portray the Rohingya as foreigners or recent migrants, it added, is inconsistent with established historical facts.

Bangladesh also recalled its formal protest on July 18, 2023, against Myanmar’s claim that around half a million Bangladeshis took refuge in Rakhine during Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War, noting that no documentary or demographic evidence supports such assertions.

Dhaka reiterated that sustainable repatriation is only possible if Myanmar acknowledges the Rohingya’s identity and guarantees their rights, security, and dignity upon return.