by Hafizur Rahman
Maungdaw, September 16, 2025: Arakan Army (AA) Commander-in-Chief General Tun Myat Naing has recently met with members of the Rohingya community in northern Rakhine State and oversaw the reopening of the historic Grand Jame Mosque in Maungdaw after more than a decade of closure.
According to information later published by APM, a media outlet under the AA/ULA, General Tun Myat Naing visited the Saindan area of southern Buthidaung on August 28. Two days later, on August 30, he held a meeting with Rohingya community members, including the Maungdaw District Islamic Religious Scholars Group formed under the AA.
Community Requests and Reopening
During the meeting, Rohingya representatives raised longstanding concerns about religious restrictions, including the closure of the Grand Jame Mosque in Maungdaw. In response, the AA/ULA announced on October 12 the official reopening of the mosque, which had remained closed for 13 years.
The reopening has been welcomed with gratitude by the local Rohingya community, who described the event as a significant moment for their religious and social life after years of restrictions.
Security Concerns Delayed Disclosure
Local sources reported that details of General Tun Myat Naing’s visit and meeting were initially withheld due to fears of possible airstrikes in the conflict-affected region. Only after the AA/ULA’s official media confirmed the events did the news become public.
Community members say the reopening of the mosque carries deep symbolic weight, though questions remain about whether broader restrictions on Rohingya movement and worship will be eased in the coming days.
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