By: Hafizur Rahman | July 7, 2025
The humanitarian crisis facing the Rohingya population in northern Arakan State has deepened significantly in recent weeks as the Arakan Army (AA) intensifies its military operations, arbitrary detentions, land seizures, and civilian abuse. From arrests without cause to the militarization of mosques and the expulsion of entire communities, a series of alarming developments highlight the rapidly deteriorating conditions in Maungdaw and Buthidaung townships.
Arbitrary Arrests Spread Fear Among Rohingya in Maungdaw
Fear and uncertainty are gripping Rohingya communities following the detention of respected elders by AA forces without formal charges. On July 2, AA operatives reportedly arrested U Saw Lamat (60), a diabetic patient and shelter owner, U Photo (65), who suffers from asthma, and U Mawji Ullah from Maung Ni village. Residents say none of them had political affiliations.
“They are known to everyone as honest elders,” a local resident told Rohingya Khobor. “Arresting sick and innocent people like this is cruel.” Families have been denied access, and the delivery of food and medicine has been blocked.
In a similar case, Gura Futinna, the son of a shopkeeper known to assist AA personnel, was arrested during a transport run and has since disappeared. Such arbitrary detentions are fueling growing fear that no one is safe in Maungdaw.
Mosques Seized for Recruitment, Villages Burned
In Buthidaung, the AA has reportedly taken control of at least four mosques in the Ywat Nyo Taung village tract, using them as military recruitment centers. Displaced residents expressed outrage: “We are not only losing our homes—now our places of worship are being turned into military bases,” said one man.
The move violates international humanitarian law, which prohibits the use of religious buildings for military purposes. Residents have also reported the burning of entire Rohingya neighborhoods in what appears to be a systematic campaign of ethnic cleansing.
Rohingya Displaced Again, Farmlands Handed Over to Rakhine Settlers
With full control over Buthidaung and Maungdaw, the AA has forced tens of thousands of Rohingya to relocate again. Many had returned after previous displacements but are now being driven to overcrowded areas along the eastern bank of the Mayu River. Families are being given tiny plots of land, without shelter or resources, and face a ban on collecting building materials.
Meanwhile, farmlands that historically belonged to Rohingya families are being allocated to newly arrived Rakhine settlers. Each Rakhine family is reportedly receiving two acres of land, farming tools, and supplies. Villages like Maug Gyi Taung and Tat Min Chaung now house hundreds of these resettled families, while Rohingya are prohibited from returning to their own land.
The relocation program appears to be part of a broader strategy dubbed the “Security Path,” which aims to shift the region’s demographics by erasing Rohingya-majority areas.
Shops Looted, Civilians Assaulted
On July 1, AA members reportedly looted a Rohingya-owned shop at Kyauk Hle Kar market in Maungdaw. When the shop owner asked for payment, he was beaten, and the shop was ransacked. On their return, the same soldiers allegedly assaulted elderly and underage Rohingya by the roadside and seized poultry from nearby villages.
“They beat us without provocation,” a victim said. “When we asked why, they said, ‘If you don’t like it, flee to Bangladesh.’” The abuse and threats are contributing to an atmosphere of terror among the remaining Rohingya population.
Border Sealed, Troops Reinforced
The AA has also sealed the Rakhine-Bangladesh border and reinforced its military presence in northern Maungdaw. During a meeting on June 30, AA commanders warned village leaders that anyone crossing from the Bangladesh side would be shot on sight. Meanwhile, up to 1,000 Rakhine civilians are reportedly allowed to leave daily.
Many Rohingya who had traveled to Bangladesh for medical treatment with temporary permits are now stranded. Families remain separated, and those stuck at the border are vulnerable to arrest or violence.
Eyewitnesses describe the latest AA military buildup as the largest in years, involving heavy weaponry, drones, and armored convoys—raising fears of a broader offensive.
UN Responds Amid Mounting Concerns
The UN Human Rights Council recently adopted a consensus resolution reaffirming international commitment to Rohingya protection. The resolution calls for accountability for human rights violations, inclusive governance in Arakan State, and urgent humanitarian access.
Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Ambassador Tareq Md Ariful Islam, told the Council: “The collective duty of the international community is to ensure the rights and dignity of the Rohingya are upheld and that conditions for their return are created.”
He warned that 118,000 Rohingya have fled since late 2023 and highlighted the role of both the Myanmar military and the AA in escalating violence and obstructing aid.
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