by Hafizur Rahman
Buthidaung Township, Arakan State | June 3, 2026
A new market is being constructed on land that previously belonged to Rohingya families in Nanyarkone village in Buthidaung Township, according to local residents.
Sources from the area said the market is nearing completion and alleged that the land used for the project was taken from Rohingya owners without compensation.
Residents said the farmland belonged to Rohingya families before the area came under the control of the Arakan Army.
According to local sources, no compensation has been provided to the original landowners.
Residents also reported that authorities collected advance payments from Rohingya residents seeking to rent or obtain shop spaces in the new market.
According to villagers, applicants were required to pay 5 million kyats in advance before the market was completed.
Many Rohingya residents reportedly paid the amount in hopes of securing a shop and establishing a source of income through business activities.
One resident explained that the 5 million kyat payment was not the full price of a shop but an advance fee required to reserve a place in the market.
Local residents further alleged that since gaining control of several townships across Arakan State, the Arakan Army has taken control of properties previously owned by Rohingya families, including farmland, homes, and other assets.
Many Rohingya families who fled during fighting between the Myanmar Junta and the Arakan Army remain displaced and unable to return to their homes and agricultural land, according to community members.
Residents said concerns over property rights continue to grow as displaced Rohingya families remain uncertain about whether they will be able to reclaim their land in the future.
Community members said the issue highlights broader challenges facing Rohingya families who hope to one day return to their homes and rebuild their lives.
