Bangladesh has firmly stated it will not tolerate any exclusion of Rohingya people from the new administrative structure in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, calling such actions a form of ethnic cleansing.

National Security Adviser Dr. Khalilur Rahman said on Tuesday that the message has been clearly delivered to the Arakan Army, which now controls parts of Rakhine. “This is our red line,” he declared. “If Rohingyas are not included, it will be considered ethnic cleansing — and we will not support or engage with such actions.”

Speaking to journalists after a strategic meeting with Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Rahman emphasized that Bangladesh will not allow further influxes of Rohingya refugees and has clearly conveyed its expectations to the AA, which currently holds control over large parts of Rakhine State.

“We are trying to ensure that no more Rohingyas come into Bangladesh. We have conveyed this firmly to the Arakan Army,” he stated.

Bangladesh's message, delivered through United Nations channels, is clear: any new administration in Rakhine must include the Rohingya community at every level. Failure to do so, Dr. Rahman warned, will be seen as a continuation of ethnic cleansing—a reality Bangladesh rejects outright.

Dr. Rahman stressed Bangladesh’s sovereign right to speak to all relevant actors, including the Arakan Army, and criticized Myanmar’s double standards for labeling the group a terrorist organization while still negotiating with them.

Regarding the recent UN request to shelter 118,000 newly arrived Rohingyas, he noted environmental concerns and said no decision will be made without careful consider. while maintaining diplomacy and providing humanitarian aid when needed, reaffirmed that any long-term solution must ensure the rights and inclusion of the Rohingya people.

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