The United League of Arakan (ULA), the political wing of the Arakan Army (AA), is expanding community-level social harmony initiatives alongside residents in the AA-controlled townships of Buthidaung and Maungdaw in northern Rakhine State.

The programs bring together members of diverse ethnic and religious groups—including Arakanese, Muslim, and Hindu communities—for collaborative public works, neighborhood clean-up drives, and local development projects.

Local leaders and residents welcomed the joint activities as a necessary step toward overcoming deep-seated divisions.

"Collaborations like this are essential for building mutual understanding, trust, and respect," said a Muslim youth leader in Maungdaw. "Inclusive actions are needed to bridge distances and overcome mistrust stemming from past conflicts gradually."

In mid-August, an interfaith social harmony campaign in Maungdaw brought together 240 participants from the Arakanese, Muslim, and Hindu communities to clean and maintain local religious sites.

Similarly, on August 15, residents from all three communities joined ULA officials in Gaungni Village, Buthidaung Township, to restore a critical drinking water pond damaged by recent monsoon flooding.

"The responsibility for living in Arakan [Rakhine] State does not rest solely on one group, but on every community living here," a Muslim resident in Buthidaung noted. "Seeing Muslim women stepping up to fulfill their roles in rebuilding the area brings pride and inspiration."

Despite these encouraging steps, community members emphasized that achieving long-term social cohesion will require sustained commitment, governance grounded in equality, and active participation from all local demographics.

Rakhine State is home to a diverse population, including Arakanese, Muslim, Mro, Chakma, Thet, and Maramargyi communities. 

Alongside interfaith cleanup drives, ongoing cohesion efforts under the ULA administration include joint monsoon tree-planting campaigns and interfaith exchange forums.