by Hafizur Rahman
Rohingya residents in northern Maungdaw Township say homes, mosques, and a school in Myauk Taung village are being demolished by members of the Arakan Army, with materials reportedly reused for the construction of new Rakhine settler villages.
According to local sources, Myauk Taung village had around 950 Rohingya houses and 18 mosques before the violence of 2017. During that period, many buildings were burned and destroyed. A limited number of structures remained standing after the mass displacement. Residents say those remaining houses and religious buildings are now being torn down.
Community members reported that on October 7, 2024, Rohingya families were forced to leave the village. After their removal, armed men and local Rakhine villagers allegedly began dismantling the empty houses. Tin sheets, wooden beams, doors, and construction materials were taken away.
“These houses were our lives,” one Rohingya man said. “Even after we were forced to leave, we hoped our homes would still stand.”
In recent days, residents said mosques and a school building in the village were also demolished. According to local accounts, almost no Rohingya-owned structures remain in Myauk Taung.
Sources claim that the salvaged materials are being transported and used in the construction of new Rakhine villages in northern Maungdaw, including areas such as Phawap Chaung, Aung Mingalar, and Sae Chaung.
Residents further alleged that Rohingya farmland is being cleared and redistributed. Heavy machinery is reportedly being used to level former village sites, remove roads, and alter the landscape.
A Rohingya woman said, “They destroyed our mosques and our school. These were places of prayer and learning for our children.”
Community members say these developments have deepened fear among displaced Rohingya families, many of whom remain unable to return to their villages. They expressed concern about the loss of property, religious sites, and historical presence in the area.
There has been no public response from the Arakan Army regarding the allegations.
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