by Hafizur Rahman
Buthidaung, Rakhine State | May 11, 2026
The Arakan Army (AA) reportedly held a public meeting with Rohingya residents from four villages in Buthidaung Township on May 8, where issues related to identity, return, and the future of displaced communities were discussed, according to local sources.
The meeting reportedly took place at around 2:30 PM and included residents from Maung Gyi Taung, Kyee Nut Thee, Mee Chaung Zay, and Da Pyin Saya villages.
According to residents who attended, Arakan Army representatives used the term “Rohingya Bengali” while addressing the community. Sources said AA members stated that people identified by them under that term could continue living in Rakhine State and that Rohingya refugees currently living in Bangladesh would also be able to return in the future.
Many Rohingya residents, however, reject the use of the term “Bengali,” saying it denies their ethnic identity and historical connection to the region.
“We are Rohingya. We do not accept being called Bengali because this is our homeland,” one resident told Rohingya Khobor.
Another resident said people in the area want recognition of their identity alongside peace and security.
The meeting comes amid ongoing uncertainty over governance, displacement, and the future status of Rohingya communities in parts of Rakhine State now under increasing Arakan Army influence.
Questions surrounding identity and recognition remain central to the Rohingya crisis, particularly as armed actors, local authorities, and displaced communities continue to contest the political future of the region.
