Dhaka: Myanmar’s foreign minister, Than Swe, has extended his congratulations to the newly appointed Bangladesh Foreign Minister, Dr. Khalilur Rahman. In an unprecedented move, the Chairman of the United League of Arakan, who also heads the Arakan Army, Twan Mrat Naing, has sent a similar congratulatory letter to Rahman.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Myanmar Foreign Minister Than Swe expressed a firm commitment to enhancing bilateral relations and strengthening cooperation between Naypyidaw and Dhaka. The ULA Chairman, Naing, also conveyed hopes for practical, sustainable, and realistic solutions to ongoing issues, particularly the Rohingya crisis, under Rahman’s leadership. He emphasized the potential to build on existing goodwill and chart a new course of friendship between Bangladesh and Arakan.
These messages signal a readiness from both the Myanmar government and the Arakan Army to engage with the newly formed Bangladesh government. This engagement aims to find a resolution to the Rohingya crisis, an issue that has seen continued dialogue between the parties involved. Foreign Minister Rahman has indicated that Bangladesh has been in contact with both the Myanmar government and the Arakan Army to work towards this goal.
A senior foreign ministry official told BSS that these messages are an extraordinary event and reflect confidence in the new Bangladesh government to promote a peaceful resolution of the Rohingya issue through sustained dialogue. Bangladesh is also engaging with other key countries and the United Nations to advance a durable and peaceful solution to this longstanding issue.
The Rohingya community has recently voiced their desire to return to their ancestral homes in the Rakhine State of Myanmar. This aspiration was reiterated at a multi-stakeholder dialogue in Cox’s Bazar last August and during the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 30, 2025. The international community has acknowledged the importance of including the Rohingya voice in crafting their future and their right to return to Myanmar.