"Muslims in Burma, most of whom are Sunni, constitute at least 4 per cent of the country?s entire population (CIA World Factbook, 2006), with the largest concentration in the north of Rakhine State (also known as Arakan), especially around Maungdaw, Buthidaung, Rathedaung, Akyab and Kyauktaw. There are a number of distinct Muslim communities in Burma, not all of which share the same cultural or ethnic background. While the country?s largest Muslim population resides in Rakhine State (also known as Arakan), it is actually made up of two distinct groups: those whose ancestors appear to be long established, going back hundreds and hundreds of years, and others whose ancestors arrived more recently during the British colonial period (from 1824 until 1948). The majority of Muslims in Rakhine State refer to themselves as ?Rohingya?: their language (Rohingya) is derived from the Bengali language and is similar to the Chittagonian dialect spoken in nearby Chittagong, in Bangladesh. There is some dispute as to whether the Rohingya are indigenous to the region or are more ?recent?, being in the main the descendants of those who arrived in Rakhine State during the British colonial administration. A second group of Muslims in the Rakhine State does not consider themselves as Rohingya, as they speak Rakhine which is closely related to the Burmese language, claim their ancestors have lived in the state for many centuries, and tend to share similar customs to the Rakhine Buddhists. They identify themselves ?Arakanese Muslims?, ?Burmese Muslims? or simply ?Muslims?..."