In a rare diplomatic gesture, the chief of Myanmar's powerful rebel group, the Arakan Army (AA), has sent a congratulatory message to Bangladesh's new Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman.
Foreign ministry officials confirmed this is the first time the armed group has sent such a formal greeting.
Khalilur, who served as the national security advisor under the interim government, assumed his new role following the Feb 12 national election.
In a letter to the minister, Twan Mrat Naing, chairman of the United League of Arakan (ULA), wrote: "In your new capacity as the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, I hope you will continue to work with us to find practical, sustainable and realistic solutions.
"Building on our existing goodwill, we now have an opportunity to chart a new course of friendship between Bangladesh and Arakan."
The message follows a greeting from Myanmar's military-appointed Foreign Minister U Than Swe, who congratulated Khalilur a day after his swearing-in.
The shift in Bangladesh's engagement strategy began under the Muhammad Yunus-led interim administration, which departed from the previous Sheikh Hasina government's policy of dealing exclusively with the Myanmar junta regarding Rohingya repatriation.
In April last year, Khalilur-the then high representative for Rohingya affairs-disclosed that the government had established contact with the AA, as the rebel group had seized control of nearly the entire border region with Bangladesh.
That disclosure prompted a formal protest from General Min Aung Hlaing's junta, which issued a "diplomatic note" expressing dissatisfaction.
Despite the junta's pressure, Khalilur has maintained that engagement with the group on the ground is a necessity.
"The Arakan Army is there across the border. I have to work with them, don't I?" he previously remarked when questioned about the dual-track communication.
Khalilur has vowed to intensify efforts to resolve the Rohingya crisis, saying the focus on the issue will only increase under the new administration.
"We contacted both the Myanmar government and the Arakan Army, starting first with the Arakan Army. Those contacts will continue.
"We will try to find an immediate solution to this problem, and I am optimistic," the minister said. "bdnews24
