Myanmar and Arakan Army Extend Greetings to Bangladesh Foreign Minister

Than Swe has congratulated his newly appointed Bangladeshi counterpart, Dr. Khalilur Rahman, on assuming office.

In a separate and unprecedented gesture, Twan Mrat Naing—Chairman of the United League of Arakan and head of the Arakan Army—also sent a congratulatory letter to Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister.

Than Swe reaffirmed Myanmar’s strong commitment to deepening bilateral ties and enhancing cooperation between Naypyidaw and Dhaka.

In his letter, Twan Mrat Naing wrote: “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 messages signal a willingness on the part of both the Myanmar government and the Arakan Army/ULA to engage with the newly formed Bangladesh government in seeking a resolution to the Rohingya crisis.

Foreign Minister Rahman recently indicated that Dhaka has maintained contact with both the Myanmar authorities and the Arakan Army regarding the matter.

A senior foreign ministry official told BSS this evening that the messages from Myanmar and the Arakan Army leadership are “an extraordinary development” following continued engagement. The official said they reflect confidence in the new Bangladesh government’s efforts to pursue a peaceful resolution of the Rohingya issue through sustained dialogue and contacts.

Bangladesh has also been engaging other key countries and the United Nations to advance an early, durable, and peaceful solution to the longstanding crisis.

In recent months, members of the Rohingya community have reiterated their desire to return to their ancestral homes in Rakhine State, Myanmar. They voiced similar aspirations during the Cox’s Bazar multi-stakeholder dialogue last August and at a high-level conference of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly on 30 September 2025.

The international community acknowledged the importance of including Rohingya voices in shaping their future and ensuring their right to return home in Myanmar.