The core issue traces back to the savage military crackdown of 2016-2017, which forced nearly a million Rohingya into Bangladesh. Myanmar’s rhetoric, Bangladesh contends, aims to obscure these crimes against humanity. Far from outsiders, Rohingya boast centuries-old ties to Rakhine, predating British colonial maps and Burman conquests.

Historical settlements around Mro Haung birthed the ‘Rohingya’ moniker, distinct from Bengali heritage despite superficial dialect overlaps. Their unique customs and heritage affirm an indigenous status Myanmar now contests.

Pre-independence, Rohingya thrived in Myanmar society with citizenship and voting privileges intact until the bigoted 1982 law. Even post-2015 elections, marginalization escalated into violent clearances.

Dhaka brands Myanmar’s statelessness strategy as premeditated, with ‘Bengali’ slurs whitewashing genocide. Past treaties, including 1978’s repatriation deal, affirmed their residency – commitments Myanmar has dodged, stalling returns amid unsafe conditions.

Myanmar’s wild 1971 refugee assertion lacks proof, further eroding its credibility. Bangladesh’s rebuttal at the ICJ not only defends Rohingya identity but amplifies calls for accountability, signaling no tolerance for historical erasure in the face of irrefutable evidence.