Bangladesh and Arakan: How the Two Can Become Friends in the Bay of Bengal Region
Aung Naing Lin, Opinion, November 9, 2026
Bangladesh and Arakan are two neighbouring regions with a long history of political, economic, and cultural connections. Their relationship should not be understood only through today's refugee crisis, border security concerns, or religious differences. A broader historical view shows that the two regions developed alongside each other, shared commercial and cultural links, and influenced one another across the Naf River and the coastal areas of the Bay of Bengal. This shared history provides a foundation for building a more peaceful and mutually beneficial relationship.
Between the fourth and sixth centuries, Bengal experienced Gupta influence and the development of regional kingdoms, while Arakan saw the rise of early kingdoms associated with Dhanyawaddy. From the sixth to eighth centuries, the Vesali Kingdom flourished in Arakan, while regional powers developed across Bengal. The rise of the Pala dynasty in the mid-eighth century added another important chapter to Bengal's history, while the Chandra dynasty also shaped political developments in Arakan. Later, Bengal experienced the Sena dynasty and the establishment of Muslim political rule in the early thirteenth century, while Arakan passed through the Later Lemro period and the Launggyet Kingdom.
In the fifteenth century, the Bengal Sultanate, established in 1352, and the Mrauk-U Kingdom, founded around 1430, became important regional powers. During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, Bengal came under Mughal expansion while Arakan reached the height of its regional influence through maritime trade and political expansion. Eventually, both political systems ended under external powers: British colonial rule in Bengal and Burmese conquest in Arakan. These parallel histories demonstrate that the two regions developed through their own political experiences while remaining connected through geography, trade, and cultural interaction.
However, shared history did not always produce friendship. The growth of religious identities, particularly Islam in Bengal and Buddhism in Arakan, sometimes contributed to mistrust and political rivalry. Bengal's sultans and Mughal rulers often viewed Arakan through the lens of territorial competition, while Arakanese kings regarded political expansion from Bengal as a threat to their control over Chittagong and their kingdom's security. These historical tensions should be understood within their political contexts rather than treated as evidence that the two peoples are natural enemies.
Today, the relationship between Bangladesh and Arakan faces difficult challenges, particularly the refugee crisis along their shared border. Arakan remains home to a substantial Bengali-speaking Muslim population, while Bangladesh also has smaller Buddhist communities with historical connections to the wider region. The current crisis cannot be understood without considering British colonial policies, migration, and the failures of successive central governments in Myanmar to address long-standing political and social problems. Neither the people of Arakan nor the people of Bangladesh should be treated as the sole cause of a crisis shaped by a much wider historical process.
The leadership on both sides therefore needs to look beyond immediate disputes and develop a broader framework for cooperation. Refugee issues and border security require practical solutions, but they should not prevent progress in other areas. Economic development, trade, education, healthcare, social connectivity, and environmental protection offer opportunities for mutual benefit. Cooperation in these fields could improve livelihoods, strengthen community relations, and reduce the mistrust that has developed over generations.
Arakan is not a sovereign state like Bangladesh, but its emerging Arakkha administration has an important role in shaping the region's future. Constructive engagement between Bangladesh, Arakan's authorities, and relevant communities could help establish practical channels for dialogue and cooperation on refugee crisis on the border. Ultimately, Arakan is a more immediate neighbor to Bangladesh having direct consequences on the border than other parts of Myanmar.
Ultimately, geography and history have already connected Bengal and Arakan. The challenge today is to turn those connections into a foundation for friendship rather than continued suspicion. By recognizing shared interests, respecting the rights of different communities, and addressing political grievances through dialogue, Bangladesh and Arakan can work toward a more stable and prosperous Bay of Bengal region.
The current political change in Arakan is an opportunity for Bangladesh. The future relationship should be shaped not by the conflicts of the past, but by the opportunities they can create together.
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