By: Camp Correspondent
April 4, 2025
The Arakan Army (AA), which has maintained full control over Maungdaw Township since December 2024, has begun constructing a military battalion on confiscated Rohingya land in Myaung Taung village, locally known as Saliparang.
On October 7, 2024, around 50 Rohingya families were forcibly evicted from the village. Since then, the area has remained deserted, with no Rohingya residents allowed to return. According to ground sources, AA seized their farmlands, ponds, and homes, and redistributed parts of the land to Rakhine families from nearby villages.
Local eyewitnesses reported that the AA is now building permanent military structures in the village, including bunkers and trenches. Materials for the construction, including iron rods and bricks, were reportedly brought from Bangladesh, while timber previously collected by Rohingya families is also being used.
“This is not just land seizure—it is the destruction of our community,” said a displaced Rohingya man now taking shelter in Bangladesh. “We cultivated that land for generations. Now it’s a military base.”
The affected families are either in makeshift shelters near the border or have crossed into Bangladesh in search of safety. Most have received no assistance or compensation.
Human rights groups warn that such militarization on confiscated Rohingya land signals deeper efforts to erase Rohingya presence from northern Rakhine. As of now, the Arakan Army has not issued any public response regarding the incident.
