Arakan News Agency
Local sources report that dozens of residents have fled the villages of Kyauk Chaung and Lek Ya in Maungdaw Township, northern Arakan State, toward Bangladesh following threats and evacuation orders allegedly issued by Arakan militias.
According to the sources, the militias arrested 10 villagers from Kyauk Chaung on 30 November 2025, including the village administrator, and took them to an undisclosed location for interrogation.
Witnesses, who requested anonymity for security reasons, said the detainees were subjected to torture during custody, as reported by Arakan Now.
Unconfirmed reports circulating locally claim that the village administrator, Mohammad Isub, and another resident identified as Kafayetullah, died while in detention.
Sources further said that a meeting was held on 19 December 2025 with the remaining residents of Kyauk Chaung and Lek Ya—most of whom were children, women, and the elderly—during which Arakan militia officials reportedly ordered them to leave their homes and cross into Bangladesh within one week.
These developments have sparked widespread fear among residents, prompting many families to flee immediately to avoid arrest or violence. The situation has raised concerns over a new wave of displacement targeting Rohingya communities in Maungdaw, amid continued abuses and the absence of safeguards for civilians.
Maungdaw Township in Arakan State has seen escalating security pressure and violations against Rohingya civilians since Arakan militias expanded control over large parts of the state. In recent months, local sources and rights groups have documented cases of arbitrary arrests and forced eviction threats, pushing hundreds of families to seek refuge in Bangladesh.
The developments come amid broader concerns over efforts to empty border villages and alter the demographic composition of northern Arakan State, as restrictions and coercive measures against Rohingya communities continue.
