by Hafizur Rahman
A 20 year old Rohingya man was reportedly taken by force and sent for military training by the Arakan Army while traveling with his family from Buthidaung toward Yangon in mid February 2026, according to local sources.
Residents said the family, originally from Buthidaung Township in Rakhine State, had decided to leave the area due to growing fears of forced recruitment. The young man had reportedly been concerned for months about being listed for military service, and his family believed Yangon might offer greater safety.
Before continuing their journey, the family stayed temporarily in a nearby village. During that period, Arakan Army members reportedly detained them and took the young man away. Local residents said he was later sent to a military training camp, where training is believed to last up to six months.
“Our children cannot sleep peacefully anymore,” a Rohingya elder from the area said. “Every knock at night feels like danger.”
Another resident said families no longer feel secure in their homes.
“People are not leaving because they want to,” the resident said. “They are leaving because they are afraid.”
A young Rohingya man who recently fled the township described the situation as increasingly desperate.
“If we stay, we may be taken,” he said. “If we leave, at least we have a chance to survive.”
Residents said that fear of arrest and forced recruitment has led many Rohingya families to leave their villages in recent weeks. Some are moving toward central areas of Myanmar, while others are attempting to cross into Bangladesh.
Local people said the situation in Buthidaung remains tense, with uncertainty growing as more families consider leaving in search of safety.
