By: Camp Correspondent
Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh | May 3, 2025
Myanmar’s military junta has rejected a proposal put forth by Bangladesh’s Jamaat-e-Islami party calling for the establishment of an independent Rohingya state in northern Arakan (Rakhine), branding the move a threat to national sovereignty and an attempt at political interference.
The proposal was made during a recent meeting between a Jamaat delegation and the Communist Party of China (CPC) in Dhaka, where Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, Nayeb-e-Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami, reportedly urged Chinese officials to support a political solution for the over 1.2 million Rohingya refugees stranded in Bangladesh.
“Humanitarian support cannot be a permanent answer,” Taher stated. “We proposed an independent Arakan State in Rohingya-majority areas to enable dignified repatriation and rehabilitation.”
Jamaat’s statement frames the call as an attempt to secure international backing, especially from Beijing, which maintains close ties with the Myanmar military regime. However, the junta dismissed the proposal outright, accusing Jamaat of undermining Myanmar’s territorial integrity.
In a sharply worded response, the military reaffirmed its long-standing claim that Rohingya are ‘Bengali immigrants’, continuing to deny their ethnic identity and historical homeland, a position widely condemned by the international community as a form of dehumanization.
Junta Claims ‘Preparedness’ While Blocking Repatriation
The Myanmar regime asserted that infrastructure for repatriation has already been built and blamed delays on the need for “verification and registration”—a bureaucratic process that has historically been used to deny citizenship and rights to Rohingya returnees.
Meanwhile, diplomatic discussions in Kunming, China, between the deputy foreign ministers of Bangladesh and Myanmar were cited by the junta as the “proper channel” to address refugee repatriation, rejecting any external proposals as illegitimate.
Genocide Accountability Pressures Mount
While the junta seeks to assert sovereignty, international legal efforts to hold its leaders accountable are accelerating. In a landmark move, an Argentine court issued arrest warrants earlier this year for junta chief Min Aung Hlaing and 23 senior officers, accusing them of genocide against the Rohingya.
Simultaneously, the International Criminal Court (ICC) is pursuing an arrest warrant against Min Aung Hlaing for crimes against humanity committed during the 2017 military crackdown that forced hundreds of thousands of Rohingya into Bangladesh.
Sovereignty Crisis Expands Beyond Rohingya Issue
Myanmar’s military control continues to shrink along its borders, where ethnic resistance forces now govern large swathes of territory. The Arakan Army holds the Myanmar-Bangladesh frontier, while the Chinland Council, Karen National Union, and other groups have established authority near the Indian and Thai borders.
Tensions have even extended into India, where politicians from Mizoram and Manipur have called for reclaiming Chinland and Kabaw Valley, citing ethnic ties and historic claims—moves that prompted further warnings from Myanmar’s junta.
“Foreign politicians using Myanmar’s internal issues for political gain will damage bilateral relations,” warned junta spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun.
Rohingya Remain Caught in a Political Crossfire
As these diplomatic tensions unfold, over a million Rohingya remain stranded in Bangladesh with little progress toward safe, voluntary, and dignified repatriation. Jamaat’s proposal may appear bold for many, but critics argue it risks complicating the crisis without addressing immediate community needs, safety, or recognition.
Rights advocates emphasize that repatriation must be based on restored citizenship, security guarantees, and international oversight, not merely geopolitical posturing.
