How Bangladesh maneuvers Rakhine's instability on the world stage
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Phyo Lin Aung (NP News) - Oct 7
The fighting in Myanmar's Rakhine State has been a battle that goes beyond the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army (AA) internal feud. It is a hotspot for the whole geopolitical chess game playing in the region. Among the foreign players most involved is Bangladesh, which has been one of the most active and the most vocal, setting itself against Myanmar not only on the region but also the global perspective. While the neighboring countries are conducting dialogue and the peaceful resolution of the conflict, Dhaka seems to be capitalizing on the chaos to consolidate its political legitimacy and attract international backing, especially by making the issue of the displaced Bengalis more prominent, who are still widely referred to as "Rohingya" by the international community.
Bangladesh’s consistent opposition
Traditionally, Bangladesh has been on the opposing side of Myanmar in major political as well as humanitarian issues. It was another example when Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government, spoke at the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 26. In his speech, he implied that Myanmar was provoking disorder locally which is extending danger to the wider area by saying, “It threatens not only regional stability, but also prospects for the safe return of the forcibly displaced Bengali in Bangladesh.”
By exposing the sufferings of the displaced Bengalis—always referred to as “Rohingya” internationally—Bangladesh wants to depict itself as a consequence of the chaos within Myanmar while at the same time deepening its claim for global support and recognition.
The Bengali identity debate
The central issue of this conflict is the perplexing identity of those called Bengalis in Rakhine. Indiscriminately they are named “Rohingya” in the West, however, this term does not coordinate with the list of ethnic groups recognized by Myanmar. Most people in Myanmar see them as offspring of immigrants from Bangladesh while the Bengalis themselves assert that their ancestors were in Rakhine historically and ask for acknowledgment as an indigenous group.
Living heritage versus membership in the community debate is at the core of the citizenship problem. By describing the Bengalis as forcibly displaced people from Myanmar, Bangladesh thus shifts the obligation for their well-being entirely to Myanmar. This presentation on international stages, while giving Dhaka political validity, is a neat dodge of its own part in the movement of people across the border.
Bangladesh's political manipulation of the crisis
Yunus's speech jolted in to the spotlight that Dhaka has been smartly manipulating the crisis for its political advantage. He mentioned that Bangladesh is not only the shelter of over a million forcibly displaced Bengalis but continuously receiving refugees "in a slow but regular flow". He alleged that deprivation of rights and discrimination in Myanmar are the drivers of this exodus, framing Myanmar as the sole source of the humanitarian crisis.
In addition to that, Dhaka has been trying to turn this disaster into their advantage in order to gain international support. At the beginning of this year, the interim government in Bangladesh revealed that they had "in principle" consented to a United Nations-supported proposal for the establishment of a humanitarian aid corridor from Bangladesh to Rakhine State in Myanmar. Although it is being promoted as a purely humanitarian gesture, such a step would empower Bangladesh to exercise more control over Myanmar's internal affairs and possibly open a pathway for foreign actors to deepen their involvement in the Rakhine crisis.
Calls for international pressure
While addressing the UN General Assembly Dr. Yunus moved beyond appeals to the heart by asking the world community to exert pressure on the government in Myanmar as well as on "non-state actors in Arakan" to create a positive political atmosphere. Given that the Arakan Army presently has control over most of Rakhine, his comments were obviously aimed at the AA.
This is a major change that Bangladesh is no longer depicting itself merely as a host country weighed down by displaced populations but is still trying to influence the political course of Rakhine State by getting support from the international community.
ARAS and RSO taking advantage of Rakhine unrest
As the conflict in Rakhine intensifies, non-state armed groups such as the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) and remnants of the Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO) are attempting to take advantage of the fragile security landscape. Their operations not only endanger local communities but also risk drawing greater international scrutiny and intervention into Myanmar’s internal affairs.
The Arakan Army, while seeking greater autonomy and authority in Rakhine, must remain cautious. Aligning or inadvertently tolerating extremist elements like ARSA and RSO could undermine its legitimacy both domestically and internationally. If these groups gain a foothold, Rakhine could become a magnet for transnational extremist networks, further complicating Myanmar’s security situation. The cooperation to achieve common goals in spite of their differences that the Tatmadaw and the AA play is, therefore, essential to prevent the infiltration of foreign-backed terrorists and ensure the country’s sovereignty.
Risks for Myanmar
Through its activities, Bangladesh has shown how dangerous is the external exploitation of the political instability in Myanmar. The mix of an AA-Tatmadaw conflict, ARAS and RSO opportunism, and diplomatic campaigns of Bangladesh really put the sovereignty of Myanmar in Rakhine at risk. The situation may become worse as the crisis could draw more foreign powers, internationalizing it thus there would be external pressure, foreign aid corridors, and maybe even intervention on the grounds of humanitarian causes.
Conclusion
The instability in Rakhine State is no longer a purely domestic challenge; it has become a regional and international issue, with Bangladesh seeking to maximize its political and economic gains. By highlighting the displaced Bengalis at the UN and pressing for humanitarian corridors, Dhaka is solidifying its position as an international advocate while placing Myanmar on the defensive.
At the same time, groups such as ARSA and RSO are exploiting the unrest, threatening to further destabilize the region. While both AA and Tatmadaw should consider pragmatic cooperation to safeguard Myanmar's sovereignty. Only through unity and careful management of both internal and external threats can Myanmar prevent its neighbors from dictating the future of Rakhine.