by Hafizur Rahman
Maungdaw, Rakhine State | December 7, 2025
Residents of Maungdaw say the Arakan Army and its administrative wing ULA are taking control of former Rohingya villages and constructing new settlements for Buddhist Rakhine families. Community members told Rohingya Khobor that farmland previously owned by Rohingya households is also being redistributed.
Local people said these activities have been taking place quietly for several weeks. One resident described the pace of change as faster than expected.
According to villagers, AA and ULA recently collected lists of Rakhine people from different parts of Rakhine State. These lists included families without housing, people who lost work and those unable to return to their homes because of ongoing conflict. They were informed that new settlements would be created in Maungdaw to increase the Rakhine population in the area.
Residents said that once AA takes control of a location, land is divided among incoming Rakhine families. One Rohingya farmer said some families receive one acre while others receive two depending on family size. He said the farmland being distributed originally belonged to Rohingya relatives.
Along the main roads, including the Rathedaung to Ngu Maw route and from Maungdaw town to Taungpyo Left, villagers reported seeing new Rakhine houses where Rohingya homes once stood.
Several northern Maungdaw villages are now being converted into Rakhine settlements. These include Nwar Yone Taung, Khawlizarr, Kyikanpyin, Wabut, Phar Wut Chaung, Myaw Taung and Kyin Chaung. A resident who recently travelled through the area said prawn ponds and agricultural land formerly used by Rohingyas have been fenced and designated for new settlers.
Community members also said that the reception centre built after 2017 for potential refugee returns has been handed over for settlement use. Some intact Rohingya houses are being occupied by Rakhine families, while damaged structures have been dismantled for materials.
In southern Maungdaw, more than fifty Rohingya villages were burned in 2017. Residents said AA and ULA are now building new villages in those areas exclusively for Buddhist Rakhine families. Farmland is being divided using the same one acre and two acre system.
A Rohingya resident said the changes feel like the gradual removal of their community’s presence from the region. He said families who lost everything in 2017 now worry that their remaining land and abandoned homes are being permanently reassigned.
Local residents said the developments have deepened concerns about the future of Rohingya return and land rights in Maungdaw. They said they fear the ongoing changes may complicate future efforts for safe and voluntary repatriation.
