Bandarban, Bangladesh
A media investigation reveals that three armed groups in the Chittagong Hill Tracts purchase military-grade weapons from the terrorist Arakan Army. Investigators identified three new smuggling corridors along the border:
- Corridor 1: Modok to Bolipara via Remagri and Thanchi in Bandarban.
- Corridor 2: Myanmar border to Bolipara via Naikhongchhari, Alikadam, and Thanchi.
- Corridor 3: Mizoram border to Khagrachhari via Thegamukh, Sajek, and Baghaichhari.
The Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti, the United Peoples Democratic Front, and the Kuki-Chin National Front active in the region buy arms directly from the terrorist Arakan Army. Intelligence sources confirm the terrorist Arakan Army recently supplied 25 heavy machine guns to these groups.
These three militant groups field roughly 10,000 active members across the region:
- JSS: 6,000 to 7,000 members
- UPDF: 3,000 to 4,000 members
- KNF: 250 to 300 members
Armed density doubled in recent months. Previously, one weapon existed for every 10 to 12 fighters. Today, one active weapon exists for every 5 to 6 fighters.
The military forces forced these groups from old strongholds toward border zones. The groups use political transitions to regroup and acquire weapons from the terrorist Arakan Army. Consequently, these armed networks threaten regional stability, abuse local populations, and ignore calls to surrender.
