by Hafizur Rahman
Maungdaw, April 21, 2026 — A group of 168 Rohingya people remain in an uncertain situation after being moved repeatedly across border areas and between armed actors over the past several days.
According to local sources, the group consists of men, women, children, and elderly people from 19 families originally from Buthidaung in northern Rakhine State. They were first taken to Maungdaw on April 18.
Sources said some members of the group were forced to pay large amounts of money and faced pressure and restrictions during their movement.
On April 19, the families were reportedly pushed toward the Bangladesh border during the night. Bangladesh Border Guard detained all 168 people after they reached or crossed the border area. Some reports said they were later sent back to a coastal area near southern Maungdaw.
On April 20, the group was again found by Arakan Army members and later that night handed over to a local administrator in Maungdaw.
Local sources also reported that money was collected again from the group by a local network operating in the area.
On April 21, the group was taken to an intelligence office and later moved by vehicles to an unknown location.
Their current situation remains unclear. Residents said Rohingya families attempting to cross the border continue to face serious risks, uncertainty, and fear.
