A Wake-Up Call for Bangladesh and the Rohingya

A video showing uniformed members of the Arakan Army (AA) and its political wing, the United League of Arakan (ULA), openly displaying their flag during the Arakha Water Festival in Remakri Mukh, Bandarban, has gone viral—triggering a wave of alarm among Bangladeshi citizens, human rights groups, and the displaced Rohingya community.

The footage, which has spread rapidly across Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and WhatsApp, shows alleged AA/ULA affiliates engaging with festivalgoers and walking freely in what appears to be sovereign Bangladeshi territory, near the border with Myanmar. Notably, there is no visible intervention by local authorities or the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).

“This is not just a celebration; it looks like a show of force,” wrote one concerned user on social media. “How can an armed foreign group move so freely on our soil?”

Security analysts have voiced grave concerns, emphasizing the strategic sensitivity of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) and its proximity to conflict zones in Myanmar’s Rakhine State. The Arakan Army, a well-known ethnic insurgent group, has been accused of committing serious human rights abuses, including against Rohingya civilians.

“Allowing any armed group—especially one linked to ethnic cleansing—to raise their flag on our soil is a clear violation of sovereignty,” said a regional security expert. “This reflects a dangerous lapse in border control and risks broader instability in the region.”

As of this report, the Government of Bangladesh has not issued an official statement on the video. However, sources suggest that the footage has prompted internal discussions at the highest levels of government.

In the absence of public clarification, frustration is mounting. Citizens and rights groups are calling for a thorough investigation, stricter border enforcement, and clear policies regarding foreign non-state actors operating—or appearing—in Bangladesh.

The video has reignited trauma within Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar and Teknaf. For many, the Arakan Army is not just a rebel group—they are perpetrators of the very violence that forced their displacement.

“We ran from them, and now we see them on Bangladeshi land, while we remain confined in camps,” said a Rohingya teacher from Camp-11.

A community elder from Camp-3 added, “The AA burned our homes, chased us from our villages, and continues to block humanitarian access. Their presence here puts our safety in jeopardy.”

Beyond the immediate security concerns, the incident has reignited long-standing tensions over identity and historical memory. Many Rohingya reject both the terms “Rakhine” and “Arakan,” seeing them as exclusive labels that erase their presence.

“The term ‘Rakhine’ refers to the Buddhist ethnicity and the state name imposed by the Myanmar junta,” explained one commentator. “‘Arakan’ may be historic, but now it’s closely tied to the Arakan Army. Neither term reflects us, the Rohingya.”

This underscores the deeper cultural and political struggle over recognition, representation, and justice in the region.

The symbolism of armed AA members appearing publicly in Bandarban sends a chilling message—not only to Bangladesh but to the international community.

“This cannot be normalized,” warned a human rights activist. “Today it’s a festival. Tomorrow it could be something far more threatening. If the perpetrators of ethnic violence can parade their symbols freely, where does that leave justice for the victims?”

As tensions continue to rise across the border and within refugee communities, this incident marks a critical juncture for Bangladesh’s border policy, Rohingya protection, and regional diplomacy.

Rohingya Vision News will continue to provide updates as the story develops.