After Naff River Drownings, Questions Mount Over Bangladesh’s Control of ARSA Militants in Refugee Camps

 

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 denials from Dhaka, security analysts note that ARSA and allied Islamist factions have turned refugee camps such as Balukhali, Kutupalong, and Nayapara into safe zones. These camps reportedly function as training, recruitment, and financial coordination centers for the group’s cross-border operations. A Cox’s Bazar-based civil rights observer told AB News that “the recent drownings only confirm the continuous movement and coordination of armed militants within the camps.”

With the Arakan Army (AA) expanding its control across the border and dismantling ARSA’s remaining positions in Mayu Mountain and northern Maungdaw, many militants are now fleeing toward Bangladeshi territory. However, Bangladesh’s security agencies—including DGFI and BGB—have come under scrutiny for inconsistent countermeasures and alleged tolerance of certain ARSA elements for “strategic” purposes.

Observers warn that the situation could escalate into a broader regional threat if hidden weapons in Arakan are retrieved by Islamist networks operating with logistical support from inside Bangladesh. The drownings in the Naff River underscore the fragile state of the border region, where the collapse of ARSA’s influence in northern Arakan has driven surviving militants to seek refuge across the river.

Analysts caution that unless Bangladesh takes concrete action to demilitarize the camps and curb ARSA’s influence, both Bangladesh and Arakan State will continue to face instability, cross-border infiltration, and mounting humanitarian challenges.

Original Link

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