25/02/2026
The statement attributed to Ziaur Rahman in 1978 — “If the Rohingya are Bengali, then Arakan is part of Bangladesh.” — reflects the deep historical and political tensions surrounding identity, territory and belonging in Arakan (Rakhine State).
From an Arakan perspective, the quote underscores the longstanding dispute over the ethnic classification of the Rohingya and the implications such labeling carries for sovereignty, national history and regional stability. It illustrates how narratives about identity are often intertwined with geopolitical concerns, shaping policy debates and public discourse across borders.
For observers and analysts, the remark remains a concise example of how questions of ethnicity and nationhood in Arakan have long extended beyond local boundaries into broader regional politics.