[🇧🇩-Land] Arakan Army----A rising security threat to Bangladesh

[Saif]

After Myanmar military junta, now it's AA's turn

The Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused the Arakan Army (AA), a powerful ethnic resistance force fighting the Myanmar military junta in Rakhaine State of Myanmar, of unleashing severe repression on and control over the Rohingya population. In a statement issued on Monday last, the HRW, a New York

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

After Myanmar military junta, now it's AA's turn

SH Zahid
Published :
Aug 02, 2025 00:10
Updated :
Aug 02, 2025 00:10

The Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused the Arakan Army (AA), a powerful ethnic resistance force fighting the Myanmar military junta in Rakhaine State of Myanmar, of unleashing severe repression on and control over the Rohingya population.

In a statement issued on Monday last, the HRW, a New York-based rights organisation, alleged that the AA has enforced severe restrictions on the movement of Rohingyas and resorted to looting of their property, detention and forcible enrolment in the army.

Another rights organization Fortify Rights in a statement, issued on July 23, not only echoed the accusations made by the HRW, but also alleged even far more brutal activities on the part of the AA members.

A new investigation carried out the by the Fortify Rights unearthed serious human rights violations such as abduction, torture, killings and beheadings of Rohingya civilians. It urged the International Criminal Court to investigate war crimes being committed by the AA against Rohingyas.

"The Arakan Army is responsible for widespread abductions, brutal torture and murder of Rohingyas, some of whom were found behaded, in blatant violation of laws of war", said Ejaj Min Khant, HR specialists at Fortify Rights.

From April to July 2025, Fortify Rights interviewed 39 Rohingya individuals, including eight women, who survived and witnessed AA abuses in 2024 and 2025. The organisation reportedly also viewed and analysed photographic and videographic evidences of AA crimes. The victims of AA atrocities elaborated during the interviews the extent of brutality of the AA members. The Fortify Rights itself also claimed to have documented how the AA mistreated and killed Rohingya civilians in ad-hoc detention centres in Rakhine State.

Fortify Rights reportedly sent a letter to the AA on July 14 last requesting a meeting to discuss the allegations made by a number of Rohingyas. "In response, the AA asked for more details about the incidents. On July 18 Fortify provided a three-page document containing testimonials and accounts of killings and torture of Rohingya civilians by the AA, and again requested a response." After two days the AA replied in writing' and categorically rejected the allegations describing those as false and defamatory.

The ill-fated Rohingyas until the emergence of the AA and their occupation of a large part of Rakhine State faced all sort of repressions, including murder, arson and eviction from their homes by the Myanmar Army. Now AA members who have been fighting the Myanmar Army for a separate homeland are carrying out identical brutality, as the world watches their plight from safe distance.​

 

[Saif]

BGB detains armed Arakan Army fighter seeking refuge in Ukhiya

Following the incident, intelligence surveillance and patrolling have been intensified in the border area

www.thedailystar.net

BGB detains armed Arakan Army fighter seeking refuge in Ukhiya
Following the incident, intelligence surveillance and patrolling have been intensified in the border area

Photo: Courtesy/BGB

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) today detained an armed member of the Arakan Army after he crossed into Bangladesh from Myanmar through Balukhali border in Ukhiya of Cox's Bazar.

The detainee, Jiban Tonchongya, 21, of Gorjbonia village in Naikhongchhari upazila of Bandarban district, identified himself as a member of the Arakan Army, said BGB, adding that he sought refuge.

Jiban entered Ukhiya through Balukhali border around 8:45am today, said Lt Col Mohammad Jasim Uddin, commanding officer of BGB 64 Battalion in Ukhiya.

He surrendered with an AK-47 rifle, 52 rounds of ammunition, and two magazines, the BGB officer said.

Quoting Jiban, Lt Col Jasim said around 300 members of the Arakan Army have fled from different camps in Myanmar. They may enter Bangladesh to surrender and seek refuge, he said.

Following the incident, intelligence surveillance and patrolling have been intensified in the battalion's designated border area, said the BGB CO.

Jasim said Jiban crossed the zero line from Myanmar's Rakhine state into Bangladesh with the weapon. He later surrendered the firearm to BGB members at a border outpost in Balukhali camp and sought shelter.

Jiban Tonchongya. Photo: Courtesy/BGB

BGB seized the weapon and took the Arakan Army member into custody. The higher authorities were immediately informed, and it was decided to hand him over to police for illegal entry.

"The detainee told us during interrogation that he fled to Bangladesh with the weapon due to personal security threats," Lt Col Jasim Uddin said.

The process of handing over Jiban to Ukhiya police is underway, the BGB officer added.

Hours before this incident, loud bursts of gunfire were heard from the Myanmar side in Ghumdhum border area in Bandarban's Naikhongchhari upazila on Sunday night.

Villagers living along the zero line in Ghumdhum said it was the first time in a long while that they had heard such gunfire, which began after 10:00pm and lasted for about two and a half minutes.

The shooting took place across the border, about 300 to 330 metres from the zero line near border pillars 34 and 35, according to Lt Col SM Khairul Alam, commanding officer of BGB 34 Battalion in Cox's Bazar.

"No bullets landed on the Bangladesh side; this was an internal incident in Myanmar," he said, adding that the BGB is on high alert and monitoring the situation closely.

Although there have been no reports of casualties, BGB has stepped up patrols in the area, he added.​

 

[Saif]

As per the video below, Bangladesh Army has chalked out a detail plan to tame Arakan Army. But Major General Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, Director General of BGB, has declined to give detail about the plan. The number of troops in Arakan Army is merely 20000-30000 where as in Bangladesh Army it is close to 200000. The total strength of Bangladesh Armed Forces including Ansar and BGB is 8 million which is more than the total population of Arakan. If the Government of Bangladesh decides, Arakan could be conquered by the armed forces of Bangladesh in less than 72 hours.