AA orders Rohingya in Buthidaung to leave villages for relocation

Arakan Now, April 21, 2025

The Arakan Army (AA) ordered Rohingya villages in Buthidaung Township to leave their homes. AA said they will be relocated to other villages.

The affected villages include Mee Chaung Zay, Hpaw Taw Ahr Li, Bo Gyi Chaung, Dar Paing Sar Yar, Maung Gyi Taung, Choo Bu Village, Kyee Hnoke Thee, Myit Nar, Zar Ti Pyin, and Pale Taung.

AA gave them one week to leave. The order was first made during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan in early March. Villagers asked to delay it because they were fasting. AA agreed at that time.

On April 20, AA gave a final order. They must leave their villages within one week. They were told to live wherever they can or in empty paddy fields near Hpaung Taw Pyin. These are areas where no one lives. They must build their own shelters there.

According to our report, around 15 households fled to Bangladesh. They did not want to live in camps. Each household reportedly paid around 20 lakh Myanmar kyats to AA to cross the border.

Arakan Now interviewed a 22-year-old villager from Kyee Hnoke Thee. She said, “Those who have money are giving money to AA and fled to Bangladesh. Most people don’t have money, so they have no choice.” She added, “AA wants to remove Rohingya homes and lands from these areas. They told us to destroy our houses so we can’t say we lived there.”

Since AA took control of Buthidaung, many Rohingya villages were displaced. Some people fled to Malaysia, Bangladesh, Sittwe, and Yangon. Now, AA is removing Rohingya identity and family rights.