by Hafizur Rahman
Maungdaw District, Arakan State | May 28, 2026
Rohingya residents in Maungdaw District say Arakan Army and ULA authorities collected cows from Rohingya businessmen during this year’s Qurbani festival and distributed the meat to villages across Maungdaw and Buthidaung townships.
According to local sources, a total of 18 cows were reportedly collected from Rohingya businessmen and distributed among several villages, with each village receiving two cows for Qurbani.
Residents alleged that the cows were not donated voluntarily and that many businessmen were pressured to provide two or three cows each.
Local sources also claimed that Rohingya businessmen in other parts of Arakan State faced similar demands and that, in some cases, dozens of cows were collected from individual community members.
“They came to people they believed were rich and collected cows from them,” a resident from Maungdaw, who requested anonymity for security reasons, told Rohingya Khobor. “Nobody could refuse because they were afraid.”
According to residents, villages that reportedly received the cows included Du-Nyaung Pin Gyi, 4-Mile Village, Zula Village, Tan Shay Khar Village, Delhi Ywar Thit, Da Pyu Chaung Ywar Thit, Kon Taing Village, Phaung Taw Pyin Village, and Ngar Yant Chaung Village.
Residents further alleged that families who performed Qurbani this year were ordered to provide one viss of beef and 5,000 kyats from each sacrificed cow.
According to local sources, the collections were reportedly organized through village administrators.
Residents said the cow distributions were publicly presented as assistance from the Arakan Army and ULA authorities. However, community members claimed the animals originally belonged to Rohingya businessmen and other local residents who had been compelled to provide them.
