by Hafizur Rahman
Maungdaw, October 30, 2025 — The Arakan Army (AA) has reportedly ordered Rohingya residents in Maungdaw town, northern Rakhine State, to take turns performing night guard duty in their neighborhoods following recent clashes between the AA and Rohingya armed groups near the Shoung Taung area.
According to local residents, the AA has tightened security along the Bangladesh border and introduced new restrictions in the town. Many Rohingya said the order has placed an additional burden on families already struggling with unemployment and poverty.
Each Rohingya family is required to perform night guard duty three times per month, residents said. Those assigned must also pay 20,000 kyats per night — a total of about 60,000 kyats monthly. Families with elderly men or children are reportedly paying others to take their place.
“We are already struggling to feed our families,” a man from Ward-5 told Rohingya Khobor. “Now the AA is forcing us to guard at night and pay money. This makes our lives even harder.”
Another resident from Maung Ni Para village said, “Some people in our area are sick or old, but AA doesn’t care. They tell everyone to join the night duty, and if we refuse, they threaten to arrest us.”
The night watch runs from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. each night. Guards are permitted to carry only flashlights and sticks and must report any strangers they see. Anyone without an official guard card signed by the local leader risks arrest by AA patrols.
A young woman from Latha Ward said, “We can’t sleep properly because our fathers or brothers have to go out every few nights. We worry about their safety.”
Residents said the order, which began on October 24, now covers several areas of Maungdaw, including Ward-2, Ward-5, Latha, Kanyintan, Myo Oo, and Maung Ni. In both the southern and northern parts of the town, people are prohibited from going outside between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Reports indicate that not only Rohingya but also Hindu residents are being forced to take part in the same night guard duty. Many fear that the practice will heighten tension and suffering among innocent civilians already living under heavy restrictions.
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