Border News Agency
Maungdaw, October 1

The Arakan Army (AA) announced today, October 1, that it is pursuing Islamist extremist armed groups along the Arakan-Bangladesh border.

The AA said this is part of ongoing efforts to keep the area free from terrorist threats and ensure public safety.

The AA also noted that, according to border security officials, it is difficult to track and clear extremist members who flee back into Bangladesh.

The Arakan Army (AA) announced today, October 1, that Islamist extremist armed groups along the Arakan-Bangladesh border had captured and killed six civilians.

On September 28, at around 3 p.m., Arakan Army (AA) security personnel discovered six decomposed bodies, reduced to skeletal remains, in a banana plantation approximately 770 meters northwest of Upper Inn Chaung village in Maungdaw Township.

It was reported that the six bodies had been discarded in four separate locations within the banana plantation—one body each in two locations and two bodies each in the other two locations.

The remains are believed to possibly belong to six villagers from Tamanthar and Done Nyo villages in Maungdaw Township who had gone missing.

It was reported that Islamist extremist armed groups infiltrated and attacked the Arakan Army’s border security outpost at Hill Point 601, located between Border Posts 56 and 57 in Maungdaw Township.

In addition, the extremist groups reportedly attempted to seize the Done Nyo camp near Done Nyo village in Maungdaw Township.

According to the Arakan Army, the Islamist extremist armed groups infiltrated from inside Bangladesh using various routes and tactics. Along the way, they reportedly abducted, tortured, and killed civilians, dumping the bodies in remote or sparsely populated areas.

The Arakan Army stated that while these acts were carried out in a covert and brutal manner, they targeted only non-Muslims.

At that time, the Arakan Army’s civilian administration reported up to ten cases of missing civilians.

The extremist armed groups along the Arakan-Bangladesh border are reportedly threatening the lives, homes, and property of innocent Arakanese civilians in the area.

The Arakan Army stated that the so-called Rohingya extremist armed groups are operating from bases inside Bangladesh, and that some Bangladeshi government security personnel are reportedly providing support and assistance to these militants.

It is reported that the so-called Rohingya extremist armed groups are carrying out attacks along the Arakan-Bangladesh border, including in waterways such as Nat River, posing as fishermen while committing acts of violence.

However, since the Arakan-Bangladesh border stretches for many miles, the Arakan Army cannot provide full-time security along the entire area. Local residents in Maungdaw say there is a need for more military personnel and resources to ensure security and prevent misconduct by security forces.