by Hafizur Rahman
Nearly 450 Rohingya, including women and children, were arrested across Ayeyarwady Region over the past year while attempting to travel through the area, according to information collected from local sources.
Between January and December 2025, security forces detained 299 men, 106 women, and 45 children under the age of 18. Most arrests took place while people were travelling by river routes or along roads linking different townships within the region.
Detentions were frequently carried out at checkpoints or during security patrols. A Rohingya man who was arrested described the moment. “We were travelling quietly by boat at night. When we reached the river checkpoint, soldiers surrounded us. They did not ask many questions. They just said we had no right to travel,” he said.
Arrests were reported in several townships, including Myanaung, Myaungmya, Einme, Thabaung, Wakema, Kyangin, Bogale, Yekyi, and Ngapudaw, as well as coastal areas such as Hainggyi Island. Local residents said some Rohingya were also detained near river landing points and small villages along waterways.
A Rohingya woman from Yekyi Township said the journey was driven by fear rather than choice. “We left Rakhine because fighting was everywhere. We could not stay. Even on the way, we were afraid, but we had no other option,” she said.
People assisting detained Rohingya said some have been charged under immigration laws, while others remain in detention without formal charges or court proceedings.
“There are people who have been held for weeks without knowing what will happen to them,” a Rohingya community helper said. “Some families do not even know where their relatives are being kept.”
Many Rohingya attempting to pass through Ayeyarwady Region are believed to be fleeing ongoing conflict, discrimination, and movement restrictions in Rakhine State. Some were seeking safety elsewhere inside Myanmar, while others were attempting to leave the country.
A young Rohingya man from the Bogale area expressed frustration after witnessing an arrest. “They treat us like criminals just for moving,” he said. “Even children are not spared. This pain follows us everywhere.”
Rights advocates continue to raise concerns over the arrests, particularly the detention of children and the lack of legal protection for Rohingya on the move. For many families, journeys meant to find safety have instead resulted in fear, separation, and prolonged uncertainty.
Source: DVB
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