Arakan Bay News

  In Lakhi Chari Village of Khagrachari District — known among Rakhine as the Palang Htaung area — tension erupted after the Bangladesh Army reportedly attempted to seize land belonging to the Ariya Kalyana Buddhist Monastery for the construction of a new military camp. Eyewitnesses and video footage revealed that monks and local residents from the Marma and Rakhine Buddhist communities gathered in protest, accusing the army of unlawfully occupying monastery land that has long served as a sacred religious site. Protesters emphasized that the disputed land has been recognized for decades as part of the Ariya Kalyana Buddhist Monastery compound, a central place for religious worship, meditation, and cultural activities for local Buddhist residents. They urged authorities to immediately halt the encroachment and preserve the monastery grounds as a protected heritage site, symbolizing peace and spiritual unity in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. https://x.com/ArakanBaynews/status/19820625...

  In a recently surfaced video, armed members of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) were seen taking tactical positions in what appears to be a populated area of northern Maungdaw Township, raising fears of imminent attacks on local civilians. Eyewitnesses and security sources reported that the militants were observed moving into strategic locations near villages already affected by ongoing clashes. Residents in nearby communities expressed growing concern that ARSA fighters are preparing coordinated assaults against non-combatants, further destabilizing the border region. Local analysts note that ARSA’s recent operations have increasingly targeted unarmed villagers, including ethnic Rakhine and Hindu minorities, in a campaign of intimidation and control. Human rights groups have repeatedly urged both Bangladeshi and Myanmar authorities to prevent cross-border militant activities and to ensure civilian safety along the Naf River corridor. As tensions continue to escalate,...

  In a statement released on October 25 2025, the Maungdaw District Muslim Affairs Council strongly condemned the alleged abductions, torture and killings of civilians by the militant groups Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) and Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO), saying these actions pose a “clear threat to regional peace, stability and the rule of law”.  The Council noted that since the Arakan Army/United League of Arakan (AA/ULA) assumed administration over Maungdaw District, conditions had improved significantly for the Muslim community: residents now reportedly enjoy greater freedoms in religious education, travel and employment, and take part in elder-council structures (Juri committees) for managing cultural affairs.  Highlighting this progress, the statement added that ARSA and RSO’s militant operations—listed as frequently abducting, torturing and murdering civilians—risk undermining the social harmony between Rakhine and Muslim communities that has be...

  Mohammad Emdadul Islam, the retired Bangladeshi major who once served as consul in Sittwe In the tense borderlands where the Naf River divides Arakan’s wounded north from Bangladesh’s uneasy frontier, terror has become a daily reality. Since November 2023, the Bangladesh-based Islamist militant group ARSA (Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army) has waged a brutal campaign of violence in Maungdaw and Buthidaung, leaving more than sixty civilians dead or missing. These victims were not soldiers or combatants—they were ordinary villagers, traders, and women collecting firewood. On January 8, 2024, three villagers were shot dead in Tat Min Chaung, while three others were left gravely injured. On July 18, seven civilians, including women, were hacked and gunned down in Letpanchay. Just two weeks later, on July 31, five more were ambushed and killed between Shwe Daung and Kyee Kan Pyin. Similar massacres followed through March 29 and October 22, when ARSA militants killed two women and ...

  In a disturbing escalation of cross-border violence, three civilians — including a 16-year-old girl — were abducted early Friday morning by the Bangladesh-based Islamist militant group ARSA (Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army) in southern Maungdaw Township, Rakhine State, according to local reports. The abducted villagers were identified as Ma Mie Sanda (16) , Maung Ba Htun (41) , and Maung Htun Aye (20) from Kin Chaung Village . The incident occurred around 7 a.m. near the Mayu mountain range , where they had gone to tend their cattle. Eyewitnesses said that six villagers were herding cattle when about seven armed ARSA militants appeared and seized them. One villager managed to flee and alert nearby local defense forces. Two elderly men, U Pan Chay (52) and U Ba Htun (56) , were later found safe, but the other three remain missing. “They came armed, about seven men. They took six locals, but one escaped. We’ve since recovered two of the older men. The girl and two others are st...

  Refugee in Bangladeshi Camps (photocrd) For years, the idea of returning the Rohingya refugees to Arakan has been portrayed as a humanitarian solution. Yet, beneath the slogans and diplomatic statements, the ground reality tells a harsher truth — repatriation cannot succeed without addressing the deep political, social, and security fractures that define the region. The first obstacle lies in mistrust. The wounds between communities remain raw, and false narratives continue to dominate international discussions. While some accuse the Arakan Army of obstructing the process, many in Arakan see the real threat coming from armed extremist groups operating from the refugee camps in Bangladesh. Their presence fuels fear and uncertainty, making the prospect of peaceful coexistence unrealistic. Another problem is leadership. Inside the camps, representation is fragmented, and many self-proclaimed leaders lack the legitimacy to speak for the broader Rohingya population. This absence of cr...

  The Arakan Army (AA) has called upon the human rights organization Fortify Rights to cease spreading unsubstantiated allegations that misrepresent the situation in Arakan (Rakhine State) and tarnish the credibility of its operations. In recent reports, Fortify Rights has released statements that rely on unverified sources and distort factual realities on the ground, portraying the AA in a negative light while overlooking its longstanding commitment to the protection of civilians and adherence to international humanitarian law. The AA emphasized that such accusations, without credible evidence, not only mislead the international community but also risk reinforcing the propaganda narratives of the Myanmar military junta — a regime responsible for systematic atrocities and human rights violations across the country. The group reiterated that its conduct during operations aligns with both domestic and international legal standards, prioritizing the safety and welfare of civilians....

  On Oct 22, the Bangladesh-based Islamic terrorist group ARSA ambushed a civilian vehicle near Myo Yu village, Maungdaw Township, killing two women and injuring two others. A 3-year-old girl was found alive beside her slain mother’s body. The Arakan Army is conducting operations to pursue and eliminate the ARSA terrorists responsible. Residents along the Arakan–Bangladesh border are urged to avoid traveling alone in remote areas. https://x.com/ArakanBaynews/status/1981198497442648303

  In southern Maungdaw Township, two civilian women were killed and two men injured when the Bangladesh-based Islamist terrorist group Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) ambushed a civilian vehicle returning from the market this afternoon, according to the Arakan Army (AA). The attack occurred at around 1:00 p.m. on October 22, near a bridge east of Myoyu Village. The civilian vehicle, driven by Ko Tun Win (30) from Kyauk Pandu Village, was carrying five people—including a child—who had purchased basic household goods such as rice, oil, salt, and chili from Sete Pyin Village in Rathedaung Township. According to witnesses, the ARSA gunmen opened fire suddenly at close range, killing two women, identified as Ma Wei Wei Soe (30) from Kyauk Pandu Village and Daw Nyi Nyi Shwe (40) from Inn Din Village. The attackers reportedly looted all the goods and abducted the five passengers, including the child. AA troops later discovered the victims at the attack site and nearby areas. The ...

  Buthidaung Township, Rakhine State — Arakan Army (AA) Commander-in-Chief General Twan Mrat Naing has categorically denied allegations that a mass killing took place in Tan Shauk Khan Village, Buthidaung Township, and has invited a United Nations Special Rapporteur to visit Rakhine State to independently investigate the claims. According to the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Mr. Tom Andrews, this invitation was conveyed during his prior communications with AA leadership. The details were included in paragraph 70 of his report submitted to the UN Human Rights Council on October 20, 2025. “The Special Rapporteur has engaged in multiple discussions with AA Commander-in-Chief General Twan Mrat Naing. Regarding the allegations of a mass killing in Tan Shauk Khan Village, General Naing strongly denied the accusations. He expressed serious concern about the use of unverified or fabricated information aimed at ‘smearing’ the AA’s reputation. He also i...

  A cargo truck and a motorcycle traveling from Sate Pyin Village (Rathedaung Township) toward Kyauk Pandu Village (Maungdaw Township) came under heavy gunfire from ARSA (Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army) militants earlier today, according to reports from AB News . The attack took place around 1:00 p.m. along a remote stretch of the road linking the two villages. Witnesses said ARSA fighters ambushed the two vehicles midway between Sate Pyin and Kyauk Pandu, opening fire indiscriminately at the civilian convoy. “Around 1 p.m., a truck and a motorbike from the Sate Pyin side were ambushed and fired upon by ARSA,” a resident of Kyauk Pandu told AB News. “We heard that several passengers went missing — including children.” Preliminary information suggests that multiple civilians are missing , including at least five children from nearby villages. The victims were reportedly traveling to Kyauk Pandu for trade and family visits. Local authorities and residents are currently searching...

  In a notable post-conflict reconstruction effort, the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA) has rebuilt more than 100 homes and a mosque for Muslim families in Ht an Shauk Khan Village , Buthidaung Township, Rakhine State, according to local sources. Reports indicate that 131 houses belonging to displaced Muslim families, along with one mosque , have been reconstructed after the original village was destroyed during recent clashes. The reconstruction, carried out under ULA/AA’s supervision, took place not at the original site but at a newly designated location , where a new settlement has now been established. As of now, over 110 homes have been completed , and many residents have already moved in, according to One Nation News . Locals have expressed gratitude for the initiative, highlighting it as a rare instance of recovery amid ongoing instability in northern Rakhine. The reconstruction project is viewed as part of ULA/AA’s broader governance and rehabilitation eff...

  A Rakhine civilian was killed in northern Maungdaw Township, Rakhine State, after being ambushed by members of the militant Islamist group ARSA (Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army), according to local sources. The victim, identified as Ko Kyaw Soe Win (25) from Pyin Sha Village, Buthidaung Township , had been working temporarily in Nanthataung Village. The attack occurred at around 8:00 a.m. on October 21 , while he and a friend were traveling by motorcycle toward Tharyar Kone Village. “Just minutes after leaving Nanthataung, as they neared Tharyar Kone, ARSA militants opened fire,” a local witness told AB News. “Ko Kyaw Soe Win was struck in the chest and abdomen and died instantly at the scene.” His companion managed to escape with injuries, according to reports from villagers in the area. The attack marks another violent incident in a growing pattern of ARSA assaults on Rakhine civilians traveling through northern Maungdaw. Earlier this month, on October 11 , three motorcycl...

  In Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts region, specifically Rangamati District, Baghaichari area, more than 10 homes belonging to Chakma ethnic families were set on fire and destroyed on the night of October 20, according to Hill Voice News, a Chittagong-based outlet. The incident occurred around 11:30 p.m. in Bara Mahilya village, a predominantly indigenous settlement. Eyewitnesses reported that illegal Bengali settlers, alongside members of the Bangladeshi army and security forces, jointly entered the village, burning and destroying homes belonging to the Chakma community. As a result of the arson and looting, ten Chakma homes were severely damaged, with one house completely reduced to ashes. Local residents also reported that food supplies, clothes, cattle, and machinery were forcibly taken away by the attackers. Community sources allege that this attack is part of an ongoing state-backed policy aimed at displacing indigenous populations from the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT...

  Following the drowning deaths of several members of the Bangladesh-based Islamist terrorist group ARSA (Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army) in the Naff River, serious questions have emerged over Bangladesh’s control of armed elements operating inside refugee camps near the Arakan border. Reports from Lay Wadi Media revealed that a number of ARSA fighters—believed to be part of the group’s network active along the Arakan–Bangladesh frontier—had hidden their weapons and ammunition in the jungles of northern Maungdaw before attempting to flee into Bangladesh. Sources from Balukhali Camp-15 confirmed that the militants disguised themselves as civilians during their escape attempt. Several were later found dead in the Naff River, with their bodies retrieved by Bangladeshi authorities. Police chief Abu Zayed Mohammad Nazmun Nur confirmed that at least three corpses were recovered on October 19, while several others remain submerged in Bangladesh’s territorial waters. Despite repeated de...

  A growing partnership between the United States and Bangladesh is reportedly taking shape around the conflict in Myanmar — a development that could alter South Asia’s balance of power and raise new security concerns for India. According to regional sources, the United States has discreetly engaged with Myanmar’s ethnic armed groups, including the United League of Arakan (ULA) and Chin National Front (CNF), through Bangladesh. Intelligence reports suggest that the Bangladeshi Army has quietly facilitated certain logistics operations, particularly near Teknaf in the Cox’s Bazar region, where the presence of militant networks such as ARSA (Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army) and RSO (Rohingya Solidarity Organization) has long been documented. These Islamist groups — ARSA and RSO — are believed to be exploiting the growing U.S.–Bangladesh coordination to expand their influence along the border. Both groups, historically linked to terrorist activities in northern Arakan, have reportedly...

  Chinese and Indian Investment Sites in Arakan (photocrd) ARSA Terrorists inside Bangladesh (photocrd) Map of Greater Bangladesh Promoted by Some Extremist Factions (photocrd) In the volatile borderlands of Rakhine, where the Naf River separates Myanmar and Bangladesh, a dangerous transformation is unfolding. Militant groups such as the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) and the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO) are expanding their operations from the shadows, turning the region into a breeding ground of cross-border jihadist activity. What was once dismissed as local unrest has now become a regional security crisis — one that threatens the strategic interests of both China and India. These groups, long tolerated in the Bangladeshi borderlands, have evolved into active assault forces, targeting the Arakan Army (AA), civilian communities, and transport routes inside northern Arakan. Their ambushes, kidnappings, and assassinations have intensified, aiming not only to destab...

  When examining the situation of Arakan (Rakhine) after Myanmar regained independence, it is evident that the region remained quite unstable. Not long after Burma gained independence on 4 January 1948, violent uprisings emerged near the Mayu Frontier area under the guise of a Muslim religious war in the name of Jihad. Most. Most of these uprisings were led by Muslim religious leaders, resulting in attacks, arson, and atrocities across both towns and remote villages. According to Moshe Yegar, author of Muslims in Burma , the Mujahid rebellion began when Muslims who had fled during the Japanese invasion were later denied the right to resettle in their former villages. Historically, before World War II, there had been about 200 Rakhine villages in the Buthidaung and Maungdaw regions. After the war, only about 60 remained, and 44 of those villages were destroyed or seized by Mujahid forces within just two years of independence. Thousands of Rakhine villagers fled their homes which a...