by Hafizur Rahman
Maungdaw, October 6, 2025:
Rohingya residents in Maungdaw Township say the Arakan Army (AA) and its administrative wing, the United League of Arakan (ULA), have begun collecting money from the community through different forms of coercion. In some areas, the AA is forcing Rohingya shop owners to pay rent belonging to displaced people, while in others, families are being made to pay a so-called “fund donation.”
AA Collects Rent from Properties of Displaced Rohingya
Rohingya shop owners in Maungdaw town said that the AA is now collecting rent from shops owned by Rohingya who fled to Bangladesh and Yangon because of the fighting.
On September 30, all Rohingya shop owners were called to a meeting at the Maungdaw Township Administration Office. During the meeting, AA and ULA officials announced that rent for shops owned by Rohingya refugees must now be paid directly to the AA.
A shop owner who attended the meeting told Rohingya Khobor, “They told us that those who fled to Bangladesh or Yangon are linked with armed groups. If we send the rent money to them, it means we are supporting terrorists. So, they ordered us to give the rent to the AA instead.”
Local residents said the order is unfair and has added to the community’s suffering. “We are already struggling to survive because of the conflict. Now they are forcing us to pay rent to them. This makes our life even harder,” another Rohingya man said.
Many shop owners have appealed to AA and ULA leaders to withdraw the order, saying it targets innocent civilians and deepens the hardships of families already living in fear.
AA Collecting “Fund Money” from Displaced Families
In another part of northern Maungdaw, Rohingya families in Thu U Lar village (Kholar Bil) said their local administrator, Mohammed Roshid, is collecting 100,000 kyats from each family as a “fund donation” for the Arakan Army.
These families were already displaced by fighting and are struggling to survive through small daily jobs and manual labor. “We are poor and trying to survive day by day. But they still force us to pay 100,000 kyats for AA,” said one Rohingya man from the village.
Another woman added, “Instead of helping us in this difficult time, they are taking money from us. We feel hopeless and afraid.”
Residents have called on the AA leadership to stop the forced collections and take action against the village administrator involved.
Pattern of Extortion and Fear
Community members in Maungdaw say both incidents show a growing pattern of extortion under AA control. While the group presents itself internationally as a force for self-determination, Rohingya villagers say they are facing new forms of abuse, financial exploitation, and intimidation under its rule.
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