Arakan Bay News

  A Rakhine woman from Taungpyo Village, situated along the sensitive Rakhine–Bangladesh border, was reportedly assaulted by members of the Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) and had her purchased cooking oil forcibly confiscated, raising renewed concerns over the treatment of border communities. According to local sources, the incident occurred while the woman was returning from a routine purchase near the border area. BGB personnel allegedly struck her with their hands before seizing a bottle of cooking oil she had lawfully bought for household use. No explanation or legal justification was reportedly provided at the scene. Residents of Taungpyo Village say such encounters have become increasingly common, as civilians—particularly women—face intimidation, physical abuse, and confiscation of everyday goods under the pretext of border enforcement. Community members argue that these actions blur the line between security operations and harassment of unarmed civilians. The incident has in...

  Members of the Muslim community in Arakan have issued an urgent appeal to the international community following what they describe as a deadly atrocity by Myanmar’s military council, accusing it of bombing Mrauk-U Hospital and causing mass civilian casualties. According to local sources and community representatives, the airstrike struck the hospital compound, killing more than 30 people and injuring over 70 others, including patients, medical staff, and civilians who had sought shelter or treatment. The attack has intensified fears over the safety of civilians and the collapse of already fragile healthcare services in conflict-affected areas of Rakhine State. Community leaders condemned the incident as a grave violation of international humanitarian law and stressed that medical facilities must be protected at all times. They warned that continued attacks on civilian infrastructure are deepening the humanitarian crisis and exacerbating displacement and insecurity across Arakan. ...

  Since the end of British colonial rule in South Asia, Islamist and identity-based militant movements have repeatedly turned civilian displacement into a strategic tool. Nowhere has this pattern appeared as persistently as in Arakan, where Bangladesh-based Muslim insurgent groups have, for more than seventy years, leveraged refugee crises to gain international attention, political sympathy, and diplomatic pressure against Myanmar. From the Mujahid rebellion that erupted shortly after Myanmar’s independence in 1948 to more recent militant formations operating under changing names and structures, the conflict in Arakan reveals a consistent strategy: embedding armed movements within refugee populations and framing displacement as both a humanitarian emergency and a political weapon. Analysts note that this approach mirrors tactics seen in other global conflict zones, including Palestine, Afghanistan, and Syria, where militant groups have sought to transform refugee suffering into int...

  Thousands of indigenous youths and residents took to the streets of Itanagar on December 27 in a massive torchlight rally, voicing strong opposition to what organizers described as illegal immigration from Bangladesh and its perceived impact on Arunachal Pradesh’s demographic balance, security, and indigenous identity. The march, which stretched from Akashdeep to the Tennis Court at IG Park, was jointly organized by the Arunachal Pradesh Indigenous Youth Organisation (APIYO), the Indigenous Youth Force of Arunachal (IYFA), and the All Naharlagun Youth Organisation (ANYO). Participants, including students and local residents, carried torches and Indian flags while chanting slogans demanding the protection of indigenous land, culture, and territorial integrity. During the rally, protesters burned effigies of Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus and the Bangladeshi national flag, expressing anger over alleged narratives of a “Greater Bangladesh” and claims seen as threatenin...

The Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) has arrested a suspected human trafficker and rescued 18 people attempting to travel illegally to Malaysia by sea in Teknaf, an area known in Rakhine State as Kayu Chaung, according to local authorities. The interception took place late on the night of December 26, when BGB personnel stopped a boat attempting to cross the Bay of Bengal via the Naf River. The suspect, identified as Mohammad Tarek, was detained along with the group as the vessel departed from the Kayu Chaung area toward Malaysian waters. A senior officer from BGB Battalion No. 2 in Teknaf said the operation was conducted based on intelligence indicating an imminent maritime smuggling attempt. Among those rescued were four women and six children. Authorities stated that all 18 individuals are Bengali Muslims. Mohammad Tarek has been transferred to the Teknaf police station for further investigation. Security officials are examining whether he has links to Islamist militant or extremist...

  The Bangladesh Coast Guard has arrested 24 traders over a two-day period for attempting to smuggle commercial goods from Bangladesh to Arakan State, seizing boats and large quantities of cargo during maritime patrols, according to official sources. The arrests took place between December 23 and 24 as Coast Guard units intercepted vessels transporting cement, mosquito nets, fertilizer, and medicines by sea toward Arakan State, amid tightened enforcement along the coastal and border waters. On December 23 at around 11:00 p.m., Coast Guard personnel detained 22 traders and seized two boats in waters south of Chhera Island. The vessels were carrying 1,300 bags of cement and 7,200 mosquito nets, with an estimated total value of approximately 1.074 million Bangladeshi taka. Deputy Commander Siam-ul-Haq confirmed the seizure while speaking to The Territory News . A day later, on December 24 at about 1:00 p.m., another Coast Guard operation led to the arrest of two additional traders nea...

  Diaspora Bangagya Activists Arakan remains a region shaped by decades of conflict, displacement, and competing political narratives, where peaceful coexistence among communities continues to face significant challenges. As local actors attempt to stabilize the situation and rebuild social trust, the growing role of radical Rohingya diaspora activists has become a subject of increasing concern among community leaders and regional observers. While international advocacy has contributed to global awareness of the suffering experienced by Rohingya communities, critics argue that certain diaspora-driven campaigns rely on rigid, confrontational messaging that overlooks the evolving realities on the ground in Arakan. Through social media platforms, lobbying networks, and international institutions, these activists often advance narratives that portray the region solely through the lens of persecution, leaving little space for nuanced discussion, reconciliation, or locally driven polit...

  As Bangladesh moves toward a political transition, questions are emerging over whether a new government in Dhaka could reshape relations with Arakan, a neighboring region now undergoing rapid political and military changes. For years, Bangladesh’s approach to Arakan has been framed largely through security concerns and the Rohingya refugee crisis. However, the reality on the ground has shifted. The Arakan Army now exercises effective control over large parts of Rakhine State, including most areas along the Bangladesh–Myanmar border, creating a new political and security landscape that Dhaka can no longer ignore. This change has forced Bangladeshi authorities to engage pragmatically with actors beyond Myanmar’s central government. Border stability, prevention of cross-border crime, and the management of refugee-related pressures increasingly depend on maintaining communication with those who hold de facto control on the other side of the border. A new government in Dhaka could ...

  A recent episode of DVB’s Youth Voice Gen-Z talkshow, themed around coexistence and conflict in Rakhine State, has drawn attention for the way its discussion unfolded and the narrative it ultimately presented. While introduced as a platform for open youth dialogue, the program concluded with a discussion that focused heavily on criticism of the Arakan Army (AA) and Arakan political actors, raising questions about balance and representation. The talkshow featured participants presented as voices from different communities. However, the structure of the discussion resulted in extended commentary critical of Arakan actors, while perspectives addressing security concerns, local governance realities, and the experiences of Rakhine civilians were limited. Several key issues affecting Arakan communities, including armed threats, displacement, and administrative breakdown following Myanmar’s political collapse, were largely absent from the conversation. Throughout the episode, allegat...

  Recent reporting by The Diplomat has once again raised serious concerns over accuracy and intent, as incidents of illegal fishing in Arakan coastal waters are misleadingly framed as a so-called “hostage crisis.” By selectively presenting facts and omitting key regional realities, the outlet advances a narrative that obscures maritime violations while casting enforcement actions as criminal abductions. The cases cited by The Diplomat largely involve Bangladeshi fishing vessels crossing into Arakan waters, an issue that has persisted for years due to economic pressure, weak regulation, and contested maritime boundaries. These vessels were intercepted by Arakan Army coastal units exercising de facto control over the coastline, following repeated warnings against illegal fishing activities. Such detentions are neither unprecedented nor unique to Arakan waters, yet the article avoids acknowledging this broader context. Instead, The Diplomat relies on emotionally charged language, r...

  A recent article written by A. H. M. Faruk , a Bangladeshi journalist, has attempted to portray the Arakan Army (AA) as a destabilizing force and a major threat to Bangladesh’s national security. Presented as an analytical piece, the article relies on speculative assertions, emotionally charged terminology, and unsubstantiated allegations. Rather than contributing to constructive regional understanding, the narrative appears to function as a provocation that distorts realities on the ground and misrepresents the Arakan Army’s role in Arakan and along the border. First , A. H. M. Faruk claims that the Arakan Army is heavily involved in narcotics trafficking and that drug revenue constitutes its primary source of funding. This allegation is made without credible evidence and ignores the AA’s established governance structures, including taxation systems, civil administration, and public service mechanisms operating in areas under its control. Second , the geographical logic advance...

  Arakkha’s Coastal Security Patrol reported the arrest of two Bangladeshi fishing vessels and 13 fishermen suspected of illegally entering Arakan territorial waters while poaching fish, in a single day of maritime operations. According to patrol reports, units departed at around 6:00 a.m. on December 23 for a routine open-sea patrol. At approximately 9:00 a.m. , officials apprehended the first fishing boat about 3 km southwest of Myin Hlut Creek in Maungdaw Township , detaining six crew members aboard.  After handing over those detainees to local authorities, the patrol continued operations. At 11:45 a.m. , a second boat was stopped roughly 3 km west of Myin Hlut Creek , believed to be returning toward Bangladesh after fishing illegally. Seven fishermen were detained on this vessel.  Authorities seized fishing equipment and catch from the second boat, including trawl nets, GPS phones, approximately 150 kg of fish and prawns, and Bangladeshi currency , and have tran...

  I slamist Militants and Location of the Attack The Arakan Army (AA) has reported a cross-border armed ambush carried out by Islamist militant groups along the Arakan–Bangladesh frontier, underscoring persistent security threats facing the region and its civilian population. According to an official statement released by the United League of Arakan / Arakan Army (ULA/AA), the incident occurred in the early hours of December 13 near Border Posts No. 20 and 21 in Upper Kyee Kyun area of Maungdaw Township. Armed militants linked to the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) and the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO) reportedly crossed into Arakan territory from the Bangladesh side and launched a coordinated attack on AA border security personnel. The AA stated that its forces responded promptly and effectively, forcing the attackers to retreat back across the border. No casualties were reported on the AA side. The militants are believed to have withdrawn toward positions near Bord...

  Illegal Fishermen Arakan Coast Guard personnel arrested nine Bangladeshi nationals after intercepting two Bangladeshi fishing vessels that illegally entered Arakan territorial waters near Alel Thankyaw village in Maungdaw Township, according to local sources. The fishermen were engaged in illegal fishing activities inside Arakan waters without authorization. The vessels and fishing equipment were seized, and the individuals were taken into custody for further legal action. According to local maritime security records, a total of 188 illegal fishing cases involving foreign vessels were recorded in Arakan territorial waters from January to December , with the majority involving Bangladeshi fishing boats. These incidents occurred across several coastal townships, reflecting a continued pattern of cross-border maritime violations. Local fishermen have reported sustained losses caused by illegal fishing, stating that repeated foreign intrusions are depleting marine resources and th...

Joint Islamist militant groups operating from the Bangladesh side of the border carried out coordinated surprise attacks on Arakan Army (AA) border security posts in northern Maungdaw Township, according to local sources and an official statement released by the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA). One of the attacks occurred at around 6:30 a.m. on December 13 at an AA border outpost on Kyi Island. According to reports, members of armed groups including ARSA, ARA, and RIM infiltrated the area disguised as fishermen before launching a sudden armed ambush. Video footage of the attack, reportedly recorded by the attackers themselves, later circulated on social media platforms. A local Muslim resident from Maungdaw said that the tactic of disguising militants as fishermen has increased risks for ordinary civilians who depend on fishing for their livelihoods. “When extremist groups carry out attacks while pretending to be fishermen, civilians like us become objects of suspicion ...

  Deputy Township Administrator, La La Mya (photocrd) In a landmark development under the Arakan Army (AA)’s new governance structure — referred to by supporters as “Arakkha rule” — a Muslim man, U La La Mya, has been appointed as Deputy Township Administrator of Buthidaung Township in the Maungdaw District.  At 59 years old, U La La Mya is said to be among the first Muslims to hold a senior government–level administrative post under the AA-led administration. His appointment marks a significant shift from past practices under previous governments — where Muslims were largely excluded from civil-service or leadership roles, in part due to restrictions associated with the 1982 Citizenship Law.  Before assuming this administrative role, U La La Mya worked as a private tutor and community leader for decades. Starting at age 19, he taught in villages across Maungdaw Township and later took on local village-level administrative and community responsibilities.  According t...

  Tens of thousands of Bangladeshi nationals have been deported across the world throughout 2025, marking one of the most intense global crackdowns on illegal migration in recent years. Deportation flights have been landing almost daily at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, bringing back migrants removed from India, Gulf nations, the United States, the United Kingdom, and various European countries for illegal entry, overstays, forged documents, visa misuse, and unauthorized employment. India recorded the highest number of deported Bangladeshis this year. Large-scale raids were carried out across Assam, West Bengal, Delhi, Tripura, and Karnataka, where thousands were detained for illegal border crossing, fake identification documents, and overstaying. Deportation batches continued monthly, with India’s Home Ministry stating that Bangladeshis comprise the largest group of undocumented migrants in the country. In the Gulf region, year-round immigration sweeps by Saudi Ar...

  The Bangladesh Coast Guard has seized a motorized fishing boat transporting cement illegally to Arakan State (Rakhine State, Myanmar) and detained eight individuals onboard, according to reports from Bangladeshi media. The interception took place during the early morning of December 6 near the Bay of Bengal in the Bhakali area of Cox’s Bazar district. During a routine patrol, Coast Guard personnel stopped and searched the suspicious vessel, uncovering 375 bags of cement valued at approximately 1,875,000 taka (around US$15,600). All eight men on board were taken into custody. Lt. Col. Saiyam-ul-Haq, Deputy Commander of the Bangladesh Coast Guard, stated that an investigation is now underway regarding the seized boat, the cement cargo, and the detained suspects. This incident follows a similar case on November 25, when another fishing boat was intercepted near the mouth of the Bhakali River. The vessel was allegedly involved in exchanging goods for drugs and smuggling them into Mya...

  Following its takeover of 14 townships across Rakhine State, the Arakan Army (AA) has expanded governance and security mechanisms throughout the region. In Maungdaw Township alone, more than 5,000 Muslim residents are now serving within administrative, judicial, education, and security sectors under the ULA/AA governance structure, AB News has learned. Local Muslim community members report that the ULA/AA has appointed Muslims to roles ranging from village-level administration to township-level posts , including judicial duties, security and police functions, and internal affairs tasks. Many are also serving in DLEPS security departments, military-support offices, and intelligence-related roles . Within the Arakan National Education Department schools, over 100 Muslim teachers have been appointed , while others work in the healthcare sector. A Jury Team , composed of Muslim representatives, has also been formed to handle Muslim-related affairs, conflict resolution, and communi...

  Muslim Women in Northern Arakan, Then and Now (photocrd) Refugee Woman in Bangladesh (photocrd) A recently circulating photo series titled “Once Upon a Time” has sparked reflection by contrasting photographs of Muslim women in northern Arakan from decades ago with their present appearance. In the older black-and-white images, women appear in traditional “ein-phyit” skirts and fitted blouses, wearing thanaka with visible smiles, moving freely in public spaces much like their Arakanese neighbors. The impression from that era is one of shared community life — two faiths, one society, culturally intertwined. The newer images, however, paint a strikingly different reality. Many women and girls in those same villages are now dressed entirely in black garments, some veiled even over their eyes behind layered mesh. The visual transformation — described as going “from color to darkness in just forty years” — has raised questions regarding how such a drastic cultural shift occurred. The...

  Muslims in Maungdaw (photocrd) Muslims Enjoying Their Religious Freedom (photocrd) Muslim residents in Maungdaw and other areas administered by the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA) say they are now enjoying full religious freedom, including the right to worship, celebrate religious festivals, and conduct religious activities openly — a situation that contrasts sharply with previous periods of restriction. According to Muslim community leader Ali Karbu , Muslims today are able to travel freely, pursue education, conduct business, and enjoy basic rights like other citizens. Local Muslims also report that access to mosques has been fully restored, enabling regular worship and community gatherings once more. Resident Ozulah stated that people can now pray without fear. “Under the current AA administration, Muslims are fully able to worship in our mosques. We can celebrate religious festivals freely and practice our faith without obstruction. Mosques are not onl...