By Hafizur Rahman, Maungdaw, Arakan, August 30, 2025
Arakan Buddhist militias, known as the Arakan Army (AA), have blocked Rohingya villagers in northern Maungdaw from returning to their homes more than 14 months after their forced displacement. The restriction has raised fears of a systematic plan to erase the Rohingya presence and replace them with Rakhine settlers.
Villages Under Displacement
On June 18, 2024, during preparations for Eid al-Adha, AA militias forced Rohingya families from several villages including Thi Htut Ai. Residents fled, leaving behind their homes, livestock, and belongings. While Rakhine villagers have since been allowed to return, at least three Rohingya villages—Kulizbanga, Baka Gona, and Hawar Bil—remain under forced displacement.
Struggles in Displacement
Displaced Rohingya described their suffering to Rohingya Khobor. One villager said:
“We have been living in temporary tents for more than a year. Our children have no education, our sick have no treatment. All we want is to go back to our homes and our land inherited from our parents.”
Another villager explained:
“Our properties were looted, and we have nowhere to go. We are surviving only with help from neighbors and some aid organizations.”
A third displaced resident added:
“We feel forgotten by the world. Even after years of suffering, no one is taking steps to help us return to our villages safely.”
Signs of a Replacement Strategy
A displaced man who recently visited Hawar Bil reported that the village has been almost entirely resettled with Rakhine families. His account is supported by a leaked video of the brother of AA commander Tun Myat Naing, who called for gradually replacing Rohingya populations in Buthidaung and Maungdaw with Rakhine settlers.
Restrictions and Confiscations
Since seizing Maungdaw city on December 8, the Arakan Army has imposed new restrictions on Rohingya homes, confiscated properties, and controlled movement between villages through checkpoints. Rohingya pedestrians and motorcycle owners are reportedly required to pay fees to cross bridges, worsening the hardships of daily life.
Background of the Campaign
The Arakan Army launched its military campaign in November 2023 to seize control of Arakan State and has since captured 14 out of 17 towns. For the Rohingya, this marks yet another chapter of persecution and forced displacement, following the 2017 military-led campaign that drove nearly one million people into Bangladesh.
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