ARNC Congratulates BNP on Electoral Victory and Calls for a Permanent Political Solution to the Rohingya Crisis

ARNC Congratulates BNP on Electoral Victory and Calls for a Permanent Political Solution to the Rohingya Crisis

Press Release

ARNC Congratulates BNP on Electoral Victory and Calls for a Permanent Political Solution to the Rohingya Crisis

The Arakan Rohingya National Council (ARNC) extends its sincere congratulations to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on its electoral success, and to Mr. Tarique Rahman as he stands as the hopeful Prime Minister of Bangladesh. The people of Bangladesh have once again demonstrated their democratic will. We commend this important political milestone and recognize the responsibility that accompanies renewed leadership at a time of regional and humanitarian complexity.

Bangladesh has carried an extraordinary humanitarian responsibility by hosting 1.2 million Rohingya refugees fleeing genocide. The generosity of the Bangladeshi people remains deeply respected and remembered by the Rohingya community worldwide. At this critical juncture, ARNC looks forward to constructive engagement with your leadership and your government to pursue a comprehensive and durable solution to the Rohingya crisis. The time has come to move beyond temporary arrangements toward a permanent framework that ensures:

  1. Safe, voluntary, and dignified return to our ancestral homeland
  2. Ethnic & citizenship rights, security guarantees and international monitoring
  3. Binding safeguards to prevent repetition of atrocities and exodus

The Rohingya issue is not merely a humanitarian crisis, it is fundamentally a political issue that directly concerns Bangladesh and extends beyond its borders. While humanitarian assistance remains essential, lasting solutions cannot be achieved without addressing the root political causes. The crisis has clear implications for regional stability, security, and international law, making it a matter of shared political responsibility for Bangladesh and the broader international community.

We recall the leadership of the late President Ziaur Rahman, whose firm diplomatic engagement during the 1978 refugee crisis contributed to the repatriation process following mass displacement. While subsequent influxes revealed the limitations of repatriation without structural guarantees, that period demonstrated how principled and decisive leadership can influence regional outcomes.

Today, renewed diplomatic initiative, regional coordination, and firm commitment to international law will be essential. A sustainable resolution to the Rohingya crisis is not only a humanitarian imperative but also vital for Bangladesh and long-term regional security and stability.

ARNC stands ready to work in partnership with your government to advance meaningful dialogue, accountability, and a permanent political solution, one that restores dignity, protects rights, and ensures that history does not repeat itself.

We look forward to constructive cooperation and your guidance with regard to a permanent solution to the problem faced by both Rohingya and Bangladesh.

For more information, please contact:

  • Tun Khin: +44 78 8871 4866
  • Nay San Lwin: +49 176 6213 9138
  • Khairul Amin: +47 9 242 8989
Why the Rohingya case at the ICJ matters to everyone in Burma

Why the Rohingya case at the ICJ matters to everyone in Burma

By Tun Khin | Published by Mizzima on Feb 3, 2025

Last month, for the first time, representatives of the Burmese military had to answer for their actions in an international court, after decades of breaking international law with total impunity.

For anyone who supports democracy and opposes military rule, there is a clear reason to support The Gambia’s case on the Rohingya genocide at the International Court of Justice.

It is important to be clear about what this case is, and what it is not. The case is not against the people of Burma. It is about genocide against a group of people who have suffered ongoing persecution for decades. It concerns crimes committed against civilians by the Burmese military.

At the ICJ, cases are brought against States rather than individuals. This means Burma, as a State, is answerable for crimes committed by the military. It does not mean that the Burmese people are being blamed or accused. The military acts in the name of the State, but as people across the country know, it does not act in the interests of the people.

This matters because the same military responsible for crimes against the Rohingya continues to commit serious violence today, especially against communities that resist its rule. Civilians in Sagaing, Chin, Karenni, Karen, Rakhine, and other areas face airstrikes, village burnings, mass arrests, torture, and killings. These abuses are not isolated. They follow the same methods used again and again.

As evidence at the ICJ has shown, the Rohingya genocide did not happen suddenly. It was planned over time and carried out step by step. Since 1962, the military has repeatedly targeted Rohingya communities for destruction. This fits with the military’s wider approach of using violence to keep control and silence opposition.

For this reason, the case is not only about the past. It is about stopping violence that is happening now and preventing further crimes against civilians. The Court has already ordered the State to take steps to prevent further acts of genocide, because the risk of continued violence remains real.

The military has long used the Rohingya to shift attention away from its own actions. By encouraging division and directing blame toward one community, it has avoided accountability while continuing to harm people across the country. This strategy has not protected Burma. It has protected the military.

Supporting this case does not weaken the country. It weakens the military’s ability to act without consequence. When crimes are ignored, they continue. When scrutiny increases, abuse becomes harder to hide.

International attention still matters. When the ICJ is involved, governments and international institutions cannot easily look away. Eleven other States, including the United Kingdom, Canada, and Germany, have formally joined the case, supporting The Gambia and submitting their own evidence to the Court. This level of international engagement increases pressure on the military and limits the space in which it can operate freely.

The suffering of the Rohingya and the suffering of other communities across Burma come from the same source: military rule without accountability. Justice for one group does not reduce justice for others. It helps protect everyone.

After the hearings ended on the 29th January, the judges will consider the case, with a final decision expected within six to twelve months.

The outcome of this case will not damage the reputation of Burma or its people. It will damage the reputation of the military.

If the military is allowed to avoid responsibility, it will be encouraged to continue. It will take this as a signal that it can keep committing crimes against humanity and war crimes against the people of Burma without consequence. The best outcome for Burma is not to defend the military, but to remove it from power.

Maung Tun Khin is Chairperson of the Arakan Rohingya National Council and President of Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK.

ARNC Extends Gratitude to The Gambia and Legal Team as International Court of Justice Concludes Genocide Hearings Against Myanmar

ARNC Extends Gratitude to The Gambia and Legal Team as International Court of Justice Concludes Genocide Hearings Against Myanmar

Press Release

ARNC Extends Gratitude to The Gambia and Legal Team as International Court of Justice Concludes Genocide Hearings Against Myanmar

The Arakan Rohingya National Council (ARNC) sincerely welcomes the conclusion of the hearings before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the historic case brought by the Republic of The Gambia, with the support of eleven other States, against the Republic of the Union of Myanmar concerning violations of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

ARNC expresses its deepest gratitude to the International Court of Justice, its esteemed Judges, officers, and staff for their professionalism, integrity, and commitment to upholding international law and justice.

We convey our heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to Foley Hoag LLP, the legal team representing The Gambia, for their steadfast and principled advocacy for justice for the Rohingya at the International Court of Justice. Their professional commitment to international law and accountability continues to give hope to a persecuted people of Myanmar and strengthen the global fight against genocide and impunity.

We also extend our profound appreciation to the Government and people of The Gambia for their moral courage and principled leadership in bringing this case on behalf of the Rohingya people, as well as to the eleven supporting States for standing in defense of accountability and human dignity. ARNC acknowledges and appreciates the support of the people of Myanmar for standing with us in this historic pursuit of justice.

ARNC is confident that the Court will render its decision based on the extensive and compelling evidence presented, including eyewitness accounts, survivor testimonies, and expert analyses. The evidence clearly demonstrates that Myanmar’s security forces, with the support of extremist elements from the Rakhine community, have committed acts that violate all the provisions of the Genocide Convention against the Rohingya people of Arakan.

We trust that the Court will uphold its mandate by determining responsibility in accordance with international law and by ordering appropriate remedies, including reparations and compensation, as provided for under the Genocide Convention. Justice delayed is justice denied, and we respectfully urge the Court to deliver its decision at the earliest possible opportunity.

Furthermore, ARNC calls upon the International Court of Justice to order Myanmar’s leadership to immediately and completely cease all ongoing oppression, persecution, and discriminatory practices against the remaining Rohingya population in Myanmar, and to comply fully with its obligations under international law.

Rohingya are an indigenous people of Arakan who have lived in the region for thousands of years, with deep historical, cultural, and social roots in the land. As such, they possess an inherent and inalienable right to their homeland. ARNC firmly asserts that all Rohingya who were forcibly displaced must be allowed to return voluntarily, safely, with full dignity, equal citizenship rights, security guarantees, and access to justice. Any durable solution must recognize the Rohingya as a native people of Arakan and ensure their fundamental rights in accordance with international law.

The Rohingya people have endured decades of systematic violence, displacement, and denial of their fundamental rights. This ICJ case represents not only a pursuit of justice for past crimes, but also a critical step toward preventing further atrocities and ensuring accountability for the future.

The suffering of the Rohingya and that of other communities and ethnicities across Myanmar stem from the same root cause: unaccountable military rule. Justice for one does not diminish justice for others—it strengthens protection for all. ARNC is confident that justice delivered to Rohingya people will ultimately benefit and serve all the people of Myanmar.

ARNC remains steadfast in its belief that international justice can and must prevail.

For more information, please contact:

  • Tun Khin: +44 78 8871 4866
  • Nay San Lwin: +49 176 6213 9138
  • Khairul Amin: +47 9 242 8989
Sincere condolences on the passing of Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister, Begum Khaleda Zia

Sincere condolences on the passing of Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister, Begum Khaleda Zia

On behalf of the Arakan Rohingya National Council (ARNC), we extend our deepest condolences on the passing of former prime minister of Bangladesh Begum Khaleda Zia. We mourn her departure with profound respect and sympathy, and we share in the grief felt by her family, colleagues, supporters, and the people of Bangladesh during this period of national mourning.

Begum Khaleda Zia devoted much of her life to public service and political leadership. As one of the most prominent figures in the political history of Bangladesh, her leadership, resilience, and commitment to national affairs left a lasting imprint on the country’s democratic landscape. She was the first female prime minister of Bangladesh and her role during challenging political periods, and her decades of dedication to public life, will long be remembered across Bangladesh and beyond.

The ARNC also recalls with deep appreciation her principled and compassionate stand for the Rohingya people. At critical moments, she spoke out in support of justice, dignity, and humanitarian protection for the Rohingya community. Her voice helped draw international attention to their plight and affirmed the importance of human rights and solidarity in times of great suffering. For this, she is remembered with gratitude by Rohingya both inside and outside the region.

At this moment of reflection, we honour her legacy, her courage, and the contributions she made to political life, humanitarian values, and regional understanding.

To Mr. Tarique Rahman, Acting Chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), her family, members of the BNP, and all who were close to her, we extend our heartfelt sympathies. We pray that they find strength, patience, and comfort during this difficult time.

We also pray with the people of Bangladesh that her dream of democratic Bangladesh will soon be fulfilled. We also extend our solidarity to the people of Bangladesh as they remember her life, service, and leadership.

May her soul rest in peace.

Central Exective Committee
Arakan Rohingya National Council