by Hafizur Rahman
Arakan State | December 25, 2025
Rohingya detainees held in detention camps run by the Arakan Army have faced severe torture and inhuman treatment, according to testimonies shared with Rohingya Khobor by former detainees. Survivors described systematic abuse, denial of basic needs, and detention conditions that led to serious illness and death.
Several Rohingya who were released after prolonged detention said they were beaten regularly and subjected to constant physical violence. One former detainee said they were beaten with sticks and kicked daily, adding that many nights they feared they would not survive.
Former detainees said they were completely cut off from their families. Family visits were not allowed, and relatives were barred from sending food, clothing, or medicine. One survivor said his family had no information about his condition or even whether he was alive during his detention.
Food inside the detention camps was described as extremely limited and unhygienic. Detainees said they were fed only once a day and that the food was often dirty or spoiled. Many reported becoming weak and seriously ill as a result of prolonged hunger and poor nutrition.
Medical care was reportedly denied even to detainees who were critically sick or injured. Former detainees said some people died inside the camps due to untreated illness and injuries. According to witnesses, bodies were buried quickly in nearby forest areas without proper dignity or religious rites.
During winter months, detainees said they were given no blankets or warm clothing and were restricted to a single set of clothes. Bathing was heavily limited, worsening hygiene and illness. Religious practices were completely banned, and detainees who attempted to pray were reportedly punished.
Some former detainees accused guards of extreme violence, saying abuse often intensified when guards were intoxicated. Reported acts included burning detainees’ skin with mosquito coils and forcing them to lie face down on the ground for long periods as punishment.
Rohingya Khobor is continuing to document testimonies from survivors as part of an ongoing investigation into detention practices in Arakan State. Community members and former detainees have called for independent investigations and accountability for abuses committed against Rohingya civilians in detention.
