The Arakan Army (AA) detained 22 Rohingya families who returned to Maungdaw Township from refugee camps in Bangladesh and held them for up to three months, according to testimonies from several former detainees interviewed by Kaladan Press Network (KPN).
The families—approximately 100 individuals, including women and children—originated from Pyan Taw Pyin village (four families), Shwe Zar village (17 families), and Nyaung Chaung village (one family). All interviewees requested anonymity due to security concerns.
Return Followed by Arrest
The families had fled to Bangladesh in 2024 amid intensified clashes between Myanmar’s military and the Arakan Army in northern Rakhine State. After spending nearly 10 months in refugee camps, they reportedly sought permission to return to their villages in Maungdaw.
According to one former detainee, they contacted their respective village chairman prior to returning and submitted identification documents, which were forwarded to the Arakan Army for approval.
“After the Arakan Army approved our request, we returned from a refugee camp in Bangladesh on 8 June 2025, two days after Eid al-Adha,” the former detainee said.
However, the group remained in their village for only one day before being summoned to an Arakan Army camp in Alay Than Kyaw for interrogation. They were subsequently transferred to a detention facility in Maungdaw town and brought before a local court three days later.
“After 15 days, the court sentenced us to three months in prison, including women and children, accusing us of illegal border crossing,” the former detainee stated.
Allegations of Sexual Violence and Forced Labor
Former detainees reported that men and women were held separately and prohibited from meeting. Male detainees allegedly endured physical abuse, torture, and were forced to perform hard labor throughout the day with inadequate food provisions.
Women, according to multiple testimonies, were subjected to rape and physical assault during detention.
The detainees further alleged that the Arakan Army extorted 2 million kyats (20 lakhs MMK) per person prior to release. Some were freed after 45 days, while others served the full 90-day term. Upon release, they were reportedly transported directly back to Bangladesh by boat operated by the Arakan Army.
“We were also warned not to speak to anyone about what happened,” one former detainee said.
Heightened Risks for Rohingya Returnees
The testimonies highlight the precarious security environment facing Rohingya civilians attempting to return to their homes in areas under Arakan Army control.
The Rohingya community—most of whom fled Myanmar during waves of violence in 2016 and 2017—remain largely stateless and lack legal protections. In the absence of formal repatriation mechanisms and legal guarantees, self-initiated returns continue to expose returnees to arbitrary detention, extortion, and alleged human rights abuses.
KPN was unable to independently verify the allegations. The Arakan Army has not publicly responded to these specific claims at the time of publication.
