Narinjara News, April 30, 2025

The military council of Myanmar has criticized the remarks made by Jamaat-e-Islami (JLB), an Islamic political party in Bangladesh, that poses demands threatening Myanmar's sovereignty, during a meeting with representatives from the Communist Party of China.

The military council issued this statement when asked by a media organization from Myanmar.

The military council's statement indicated that Myanmar has a fundamental policy of accepting Bengali refugees following a verification of their names.

The military council stated that it has clarified to global diplomats that adequate facilities have been constructed with China's assistance to house the refugees.

The military council declared that the remarks by the Jamaat-e-Islami party in the meeting with the Communist Party of China for political advantage are statements that infringe upon Myanmar's sovereignty, and Myanmar denounces and protests against them.

The military council announced that during the meeting held on April 27 at the Hotel Westin in Dhaka, with a delegation led by Dr. Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher, a member of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, and representatives from the Communist Party of China, discussions and demands impacting Myanmar's sovereignty were identified.

Myanmar has repeatedly communicated its stance on the repatriation of Bengali refugees. The deputy foreign minister of Bangladesh and his counterpart from Myanmar convened in Kunming, China, where they consistently addressed matters of reception and repatriation; however, discussions ceased when the conflict erupted.

Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher informed reporters following the meeting that the Jamaat-e-Islami party "suggested to the delegation from the Chinese Communist Party in Bangladesh to create an independent state in Rakhine State, home to the Rohingya majority."

The military council views Muslims residing in northern Rakhine State as immigrants from Bangladesh and does not acknowledge them as Rohingya, referring to them solely as Bengalis.