Myanmar has again described Rohingya people displaced to Bangladesh as “Bengali,” prompting Bangladesh to say it is seeking international pressure on both Myanmar’s government and the Arakan Army for their repatriation. The statement, reported on August 19, 2026, has raised questions over whether Myanmar’s position could obstruct Bangladesh’s efforts to return Rohingya refugees and further complicate the crisis.
Myanmar says no group exists in the country under the ethnic name Rohingya and does not recognise them among its 135 ethnic minorities. Analysts cited in the report say the renewed terminology signals that Myanmar is not genuinely interested in taking Rohingya back, describing it as a longstanding tactic of the military authorities. Rohingya representative Nurul Islam said Rohingya suffered ethnic cleansing in Rakhine and that neither Myanmar’s government nor the Arakan Army wants their return.
About 750,000 Rohingya fled military persecution in Rakhine for Bangladesh in 2017, while another 400,000 to 500,000 arrived at different times before and after that exodus. Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman told parliament on April 28 that Bangladesh hosts about 1.189 million displaced Rohingya. Retired Major Emdadul Islam urged Bangladesh to focus on Myanmar’s duty to receive its citizens rather than engage in the identity dispute.
বিবিসি বাংলা প্রকাশ : ১৯ আগস্ট ২০২৬, ১৮: ২৭আপডেট : ১৯ আগস্ট ২০২৬, ১৮: ৩১ মিয়ানমার থেকে বাস্তুচ্যুত হয়ে বাংলাদেশে আশ্রয় নেওয়া রোহিঙ্গা জনগোষ্ঠীকে আবারো ‘বাঙালি’ দাবি করে মিয়ানমার সরকারের সাম্প্রতিক বিবৃতির পর বাংলাদেশ সরকার জানিয়েছে, রোহিঙ্গাদের প্র
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