Rohingya Fleeing to Bangladesh Extorted by AA

The Rohingya community in Maungdaw Township is living through unimaginable hardship. As the conflict between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army (AA) rages on, their lives have been reduced to a daily struggle for survival. Starvation and disease have become their constant companions, pushing many to the brink. In desperation, some have left their homes, seeking refuge in areas under AA control, only to be driven to flee further—to Bangladesh, where they hope to find safety.

But the journey across the border is fraught with danger and exploitation. To secure a spot on a boat heading to Bangladesh, each Rohingya family is forced to pay a staggering 500,000 MMK. This is not a choice but a demand made by the AA members who control the ferries. And the ordeal doesn’t end there. Once aboard, these desperate people are subjected to invasive searches. AA soldiers, showing no regard for their suffering, rifle through their meager possessions, seizing valuable items and even important documents that could mean the difference between life and death.

“We had no choice but to leave. The violence against us left us with no other option,” shared a Rohingya man who recently escaped to Bangladesh. “We were already struggling, but when we reached the sea, they demanded 500,000 MMK from us. Then they took everything—our documents, our valuables. Even our census papers were taken. They left us with nothing.”

Another survivor recounted the fear and helplessness that gripped them during the escape. “We didn’t want to flee, but we were forced to. When we finally managed to get on the boat, we were inspected by the AA. They took our most important things—things we needed to prove who we are. They didn’t care that we had already lost so much.”

The Rohingya are being targeted at every turn. Beyond the killings, abductions, and forced recruitment, the AA is now robbing those who seek refuge in another country. The situation in Maungdaw Township remains dire, with the Rohingya community suffering brutal treatment daily under AA control. Their hope for safety is met with yet another layer of cruelty, even as they risk everything to escape.

Rohingya Vision News