Grand Mosque of Maungdaw Reopens After Over a Decade of Closure

Arakan Now | 15 September 2025

The Grand Mosque of Maungdaw, nearly 200 years old and also known as Monshi Mosque, has officially reopened after more than a decade of closure. 

The historic mosque, a cornerstone of religious and cultural life for the Rohingya community, had been shut down since 2012 following communal violence in Rakhine State.

 Attempts to reopen it were blocked for years, despite repeated calls from the community for access to this important landmark.

In April 2024, the military junta briefly reopened the mosque, but it was closed again in December after the Arakan Army (AA) gained full control of Maungdaw. On 12 September 2025, the AA officially reopened the Monshi Mosque.

The occasion was marked by a ceremony attended by a large number of Rohingya community members.For Rohingya in Maungdaw and beyond, the Monshi Mosque stands as a reminder of their enduring heritage and faith.

A resident told Arakan Now: “For us, this mosque is not just a place to pray. It holds the memories of our parents and grandparents, and reopening it means our heritage is alive again.”