Saturday। 7 November। 2026
আগামীর সময়
Saturday। 7 November। 2026
Agamir Somoy
  • Latest
  • Bangladesh
  • Business
  • Chattogram
  • District
  • World
  • Environment
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Feature
  • OP-ED
  • Misc
  • Success Story
  • Religion
BN
  • Latest
  • Bangladesh
  • Business
  • Chattogram
  • District
  • World
  • Environment
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Feature
  • OP-ED
  • Misc
  • BN
লোড হচ্ছে…

Chief Editor & Publisher: Abdus Sattar Miazi

Editor: Mustafa Mamun

Agamir Somoy English Logo
About UsContactTerms of ServicePrivacy PolicyTeam

EDB Trade Centre (Level-6 &7) 93 Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue Karwanbazar, Dhaka-1215.

Contact: +880 9666 771010

Advertise: +880 1755 651164

[email protected]

© 2026 | Dainik Agamir Somoy. All rights reserved.

আগামীর সময় World

‘The Rohingya crisis is political, not merely humanitarian’: AiPAH Chief Shwe Maung on the Rohingya crisis

Shaekh Al Tamal
agamir somoy
Published: 07 November 2026, 14:44
শেয়ার করুন:
‘The Rohingya crisis is political, not merely humanitarian’: AiPAH Chief Shwe Maung on the Rohingya crisis

Photo: AiPAH Chief Shwe Maung

U Shwe Maung is a Rohingya rights activist and former politician who represented Buthidaung Township in Myanmar’s Pyithu Hluttaw, the lower house of parliament, as a member of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) from 2011 to 2015. He currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Arakan Institute for Peace and Human Rights (AiPAH) and Chairperson of the Arakan Rohingya National Congress (ARNC). He is also identified as President of the Arakan Institute for Peace and Development. In addition, he is a board member of ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) and a founding member and co-founder of the International Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief (IPPFoRB).

Shwe Maung has long been involved in advocating for the rights and identity of the Rohingya, a community that has faced longstanding discrimination and persecution in Arakan and across Myanmar. His own political experience reflects the challenges faced by Rohingya seeking representation and recognition. After being denied the right to contest the 2015 election, he came to understand that even an elected member of parliament could lose his political rights for standing up for Rohingya identity.

The interview was conducted via email by Shaekh Al Tamal.

Question: According to UN estimates, Bangladesh now hosts more than 1.5 million Rohingya refugees. In reality, the Myanmar junta remains unwilling to grant them citizenship unless they compromise on their identity, while the Arakan Army’s “Way of Rakhita” doctrine also excludes recognition of the Rohingya. Caught in this deadlock, do you see any pragmatic path for Bangladesh to secure their safe, dignified, and permanent return?

Shwe Maung: The Rohingya crisis is fundamentally a political crisis, not merely a refugee or identity issue. The deliberate labeling of Rohingya as “Bengali” has been used to deny their ethnic identity, citizenship, and equal rights in their ancestral homeland of Arakan. Bangladesh must move beyond refugee management and take a stronger diplomatic leadership role in pursuing a lasting political solution. It should mobilize the UN, US, UK, EU, ASEAN, China, India, and other influential partners to establish a coordinated international framework for safe, voluntary, dignified, and sustainable repatriation while addressing the realities of ULA/AA’s territorial control, political ideology, and treatment of Rohingya. Bangladesh must insist on recognition of Rohingya identity, full citizenship, equal rights, security, and meaningful political representation as essential conditions for sustainable return. It should also advocate credible international protection and monitoring mechanisms, including exploring the feasibility of an internationally protected safe zone, with Rohingya representatives meaningfully involved in all negotiations affecting their future.

Arakan ArmyArakan InstituteSafe RepatriationRakhine ConflictNational Unity GovernmentASEAN ResponseCitizenship CrisisRohingya RefugeesRohingya RightsU Shwe Maung
    আগামীর সময় ইপেপার
    শেয়ার করুন:

    Question: You have been vocal about ASEAN’s inaction. Yet the bloc remains deeply divided, with countries like Malaysia and Indonesia advocating for accountability while others maintain close ties with the junta. What concrete diplomatic leverage can Bangladesh and other regional neighbors use to push ASEAN into taking decisive action?

    Shwe Maung: ASEAN’s failure is not simply a lack of consensus but a lack of political will to enforce its own commitments. Five years after adopting the Five Point Consensus, Myanmar’s crisis continues, with serious consequences for regional security and stability. Bangladesh should work closely with Malaysia, Indonesia, and other concerned ASEAN members to build a regional diplomatic coalition. Bangladesh should also engage the US, EU, China, and India to increase coordinated diplomatic pressure and support stronger humanitarian and accountability mechanisms.

    Question: The Arakan Army has become a dominant territorial force in Rakhine alongside the military junta. Between devastating junta airstrikes on local markets and renewed displacement of the Rohingya, the situation on the ground is catastrophic. As someone native to this land, how do you view the current reality in Rakhine? What steps are urgently needed to build lasting peace, and where does Bangladesh fit into that equation?

    Shwe Maung: As someone born in Arakan, I see civilians suffering under continued military airstrikes, armed conflict, and restrictions on Rohingya communities. Changing who controls the territory will not bring peace unless the way people are governed also changes. My proposed solution is an immediate halt to attacks on civilians, unrestricted humanitarian access, and an internationally monitored safe zone where feasible. This must be followed by political talks involving Rohingya, Rakhine, and other communities to agree on equal rights, citizenship, security, and shared governance. Bangladesh should lead a diplomatic initiative with the UN, UK, EU, China, India, and ASEAN to secure these arrangements and develop a clear, internationally monitored plan for voluntary, safe, and dignified Rohingya repatriation.

    Question: Is there genuine dialogue within Myanmar’s civilian political factions, civil society networks, or regional platforms regarding the formal recognition of Rohingya identity and their legitimate political rights?

    Shwe Maung: Yes, there has been some progress. The National Unity Government (NUG) and several civil society groups have publicly recognized Rohingya identity and rights. However, recognition in statements is not the same as political commitment in practice. In my view, genuine dialogue must include Rohingya representatives and lead to clear commitments on citizenship, equal rights, political representation, and self-governance. Without these commitments, dialogue alone will not solve the Rohingya crisis.

    Question: The international response often seems confined to humanitarian relief, falling short of addressing the root political crisis involving identity and citizenship. What specific policy shifts should we expect right now from Washington, Brussels, and the United Nations to break this cycle?

    Shwe Maung: The US, EU, and UN must stop treating the Rohingya crisis mainly as a humanitarian issue. Food and shelter are essential, but they cannot solve the political problems that forced Rohingya to flee. Washington and Brussels should use targeted sanctions, diplomatic pressure, and support for international accountability to push for recognition of Rohingya identity, citizenship, and equal political rights. The UN should lead efforts to establish credible international protection and monitoring arrangements in Arakan while ensuring that Rohingya representatives have a voice in political negotiations. The goal must be a political solution that allows Rohingya to return home safely with full rights, not simply another repatriation agreement on paper.

    Question: The National Unity Government (NUG) has pledged to repatriate the Rohingya with full citizenship rights once the military regime falls. Is this a genuine commitment or merely a pragmatic diplomatic posture? Have you observed any tangible actions on the ground that prove the NUG is truly advocating for the Rohingya?

    Shwe Maung: The NUG’s recognition of Rohingya identity and its promise of citizenship are positive steps. However, promises alone are not enough, and I cannot judge its sincerity without seeing concrete results. I have not seen sufficient evidence of meaningful changes on the ground. The NUG should involve Rohingya representatives in political decision-making, present a clear plan to restore citizenship rights, and work with other resistance groups to protect Rohingya communities. The real test is not what the NUG promises after the military falls, but what it is prepared to do for Rohingya today. I have been calling on the CRPH/NUG since Day 1 to adopt legislation recognizing the Rohingya as an ethnic group in Myanmar. However, they have failed to do so.

    Question: It has been years since your parliamentary candidacy was arbitrarily stripped away. For a new generation of Rohingya youth growing up without statehood or voting rights, how can they preserve their ethnic identity while sustaining the political struggle for their rightful place in Myanmar?

    Shwe Maung: When I was denied the right to contest the 2015 election, I learned that even an elected Member of Parliament could lose his political rights simply for standing up for Rohingya identity. My message to young Rohingya is simple: Never give up your identity, your history, or your rightful place in Arakan. Learn our language, study our history, preserve the memories of our elders, and use education, research, writing, and modern technology to make our voices heard. At the same time, we must build unity, develop capable young leaders, and pursue our political rights through peaceful, organized, and sustained efforts. We are not asking for a new homeland. We are asking for our rightful place, with equal rights and dignity, in our ancestral homeland of Arakan.