AA Bans All Bangla SIM Cards and Orders Removal of Compound Fences

Arakan Now | 10 September 2025

A few days ago, the Arakan Army (AA) imposed a ban on all Bangla SIM cards in the villages of Sin Daung and Kin Daung, Buthidaung Township. Residents who once had permission to use them were suddenly ordered to surrender their phones and SIMs. With no other option, people handed them over, watching yet another lifeline to the outside world being cut away.

The AA has also instructed villagers to remove the fences around their home compounds. Residents say the fences, which once gave them privacy and a sense of security, are now being torn down under strict orders. Families were even told to cut down taro plants if any were growing inside their compounds.

Villagers describe the measures as another heavy blow following the ban on Bangla SIM cards. What once felt like small freedoms—making a phone call or keeping plants in their yards—are being taken away. Many now speak of living with fear, uncertainty, and a growing sense of loss.