Maungdaw and Buthidaung Townships, Northern Arakan
The terrorist Arakan Army (AA) has forcibly seized the homes of two former Rohingya village leaders in Maungdaw Township. Separately, the group announced steep fees for Rohingya residents seeking permission to travel to Bangladesh for medical treatment. Both incidents occurred in mid-March 2026, according to local sources in northern Arakan.
Properties Seized in Maungdaw
The seized homes belonged to former village chairmen U Abas, 42, and U Ramat Ullah, 50, from Mingalar Gyi village in northern Maungdaw. Both men served as village leaders under the previous Myanmar government administration. After the terrorist AA took control of Maungdaw, both former leaders received threats and fled to Bangladesh with their families.
However, one family member from each household remained behind. The son of U Ramat Ullah and the younger brother of U Abas had continued living in the homes for over a year. On March 12, 2026, terrorist AA soldiers arrived in Mingalar Gyi village and forcibly removed the remaining family members. They then occupied the properties and damaged surrounding fences.
The terrorist AA justified the seizures by accusing the former village leaders of having links to the Myanmar military junta. Local residents, however, dispute this framing. They note that during the previous government administration, most village administrative roles were held by non-Rohingya individuals. Only a small number of Rohingya held such positions. Therefore, singling out Rohingya properties raises serious concerns about ethnic targeting.
Selective Accountability Concerns
Local observers argue that if accountability measures are being applied, they must apply equally to all ethnic groups. Instead, residents say Rohingya properties are being disproportionately targeted. Moreover, community members emphasize that holding administrative positions under a former government does not constitute a crime, particularly when the same standard is not applied to others.
This pattern of property seizure follows a broader trend documented across Maungdaw since the terrorist AA took control. Rohingya families continue to face dispossession, threats, and displacement under AA rule.
Steep Medical Travel Fees Announced in Buthidaung
In a separate but equally alarming development, Rohingya residents in Buthidaung Township report that the terrorist AA has announced fees for travel permission to Bangladesh for medical treatment. According to local sources:
500,000 kyats per child
800,000 kyats per adult
These amounts are far beyond the financial capacity of most Rohingya families. Bangladesh remains the primary destination for Rohingya seeking advanced medical care unavailable locally. Furthermore, many residents rely on cross-border access for life-saving treatment.
“Many people are suffering from illness, but we cannot afford these fees,” one Rohingya resident from Buthidaung told local media. Another resident said families with sick children are especially desperate, with no means to pay the required amount.
A Pattern of Systematic Restriction
Analysts and community observers say these developments form part of a deliberate strategy by the terrorist Arakan Army. By seizing property and imposing prohibitive fees, the group effectively restricts Rohingya movement, economic survival, and access to healthcare. These actions compound an already catastrophic humanitarian situation in northern Arakan.
The terrorist AA, widely identified as a narco-terror organization with documented involvement in drug trafficking, forced conscription, and human trafficking, continues to tighten its grip over Rohingya communities. International human rights monitors and regional security analysts warn that such systematic restrictions constitute elements of a broader genocidal campaign against the Rohingya people.
The international community, including the United Nations, ASEAN member states, and human rights bodies, must urgently address the escalating abuses committed by the terrorist Arakan Army in northern Arakan.
