Arakan Army closes mosques, takes Rohingya farms, and forces women to join army in Buthidaung Township

Arakan Now, 28 April 2025

The Arakan Army (AA) held a meeting with Rohingya villagers in Kin Taung village of Buthidaung Township. During the meeting, they said that even Rohingya girls, aged 18 to 35, must join their forces. AA also ordered the closure of small mosques built in the village after the Arakan Army burned the main mosques.

A villager told Arakan Now, “When our mosques were destroyed during the fighting between AA and the Myanmar military, we built a few small mosques for prayer. But now AA ordered us not to pray in these mosques and told us to close or destroy them.”

AA has also banned the use of the village graveyard, stopping people from burying their dead. In addition, land near a local pagoda in Kin Taung Village, which was essential for Rohingya survival, has been seized by AA.

“Regarding the graveyard, we spent much money to keep it safe and well. It is the graveyard we have been using for decades. Now, AA is controlling it,” the villager added.

Due to the growing crises, including forced recruitment, land confiscation, and religious restrictions, many villagers are preparing to flee again to Bangladesh. Both men and women are getting ready to escape wherever they can.