by Hafizur Rahman
Kyauktaw Township, Arakan State | May 21, 2026
Rohingya residents in Kyauktaw Township say they are facing the loss of nearly 196 acres of farmland after the United League of Arakan reportedly moved to acquire the land for planned factory and workshop projects.
Residents from Taung Htauk Muslim village said farming has been their main source of survival for generations, with more than 500 villagers currently depending on the farmland for food and income.
According to local residents, ULA officials called 96 Rohingya farmers to a meeting on March 26 at a nearby village school, where authorities reportedly informed them that land from Plot No. 730 and Plot No. 729 would be taken for development projects.
Villagers said the authorities offered compensation of 4 million kyats per acre and instructed the farmers to make a decision within seven days.
Many residents rejected the proposal and accused the authorities of unfairly targeting Rohingya-owned land.
“These lands are our only way to survive,” one farmer told Rohingya Khobor. “If we lose them, our families will have nothing left.”
Local residents said most of the farmland in the area belongs to Rohingya families from Taung Htauk village, while nearby farmland owned by other communities was reportedly not included in the acquisition plan.
Another farmer criticized the compensation offer, saying the amount was far below the actual market value of the land.
“People feel they are being forced to give up their land,” he said.
Residents also said farmers submitted a complaint letter to the ULA central office in April but had not received any response.
According to villagers, tensions increased after several farmers openly questioned the land seizure.
Local residents alleged that 10 farmers were later detained by Arakan Army and ULA members and held for around 72 hours inside a dark room.
“They were punished simply for asking questions,” one resident said. “People are now living in fear.”
Villagers warned that losing the farmland could create severe hardship for hundreds of Rohingya families who depend entirely on agriculture for their daily survival.
