Three Bangladeshis Arrested with Arakan Army Uniforms in Cox’s Bazar

By: Camp Correspondent

Khurushkul, Cox’s Bazar – March 24, 2025

Security forces in Cox’s Bazar have arrested three Bangladeshi nationals with a large cache of Arakan Army (AA) uniforms, raising concerns over potential support networks for the Myanmar-based armed group operating along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.

According to RAB-15, the arrests took place in the Khurushkul area following intelligence reports. Officers recovered 60 full sets of Arakan Army uniforms, Tk 35,000 in cash, and four mobile phones during the raid. One individual, identified as Nur Mohammad (50), fled the scene and remains at large.

The arrested individuals have been named as:

• Shafika Akter (37)
• Minuara Akter (33)
• Iqbal Hasan (14)

Investigators are now probing the suspects’ connections and the possible destination or recipients of the uniforms. It remains unclear whether the items were being trafficked into Myanmar or intended for use within Bangladesh.

The presence of AA-related material in Bangladesh has heightened alarm among displaced Rohingya communities who have repeatedly expressed fear over the activities of armed groups in both Rakhine and refugee camps. “Any support for the Arakan Army from within Bangladesh is a threat to our safety. We fled their oppression. Their influence must not be allowed to spread here,” said a Rohingya refugee in Kutupalong camp, speaking anonymously for fear of reprisal.

The AA has been accused by Rohingya rights groups and eyewitnesses of committing a series of human rights violations, including forced displacement, extortion, and violence in northern Rakhine. Many Rohingya now fear that cross-border activities could embolden these abuses.

Rohingya civil society groups are urging the Bangladeshi authorities to investigate the matter thoroughly and ensure that no networks are aiding armed actors responsible for the suffering of innocent civilians in Arakan.

The incident is being closely monitored by local and international observers concerned about the growing insecurity along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.