Over 300 Rohingya Boys and 50 Girls Allowed Brief Family Visits After Forced Conscription and 45 Days Training
- Arakan Now
- 35 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Arakan Now | 21 April 2026
The Arakan Army (AA) has permitted a group of forcibly conscripted Rohingya youths to visit their families for 10 days, beginning on 18 April 2026, according to local sources.
The temporary leave applies to boys and girls held at the AA's Ywet Nyo Daung camp in Buthidaung Township, where they have reportedly undergone weeks of military training after being taken.
Arakan Now interviewed one of the conscripted boys. His identity, along with details of his abduction, is being withheld for security reasons.
He said that more than 300 Rohingya boys and at least 50 girls are currently being held at the camp. According to his account, all were forcibly conscripted recruited from villages across Buthidaung and Maungdaw Townships.
"There are many underage children among us," he said, describing the group as including hundreds of minors.
The boy added that the conscripts were granted leave only after completing 45 days of training. They have been instructed to return to the camp after the 10-day visit.
He further alleged that the Arakan Army issued strict warnings to the conscripts, threatening severe punishment against both the individuals and their families if they fail to return.
He also described harsh training conditions, saying the daily schedule runs from 4:00 a.m to 6:00 a.m, and again from 7:00 a.m to 11:00 a.m and continue throughout the day. According to him, the conscripts were given only with basic foods and no additional support. He alleged that they are subjected to abuse and at times, physical beatings. Boys and girls are trained together and are forced to wear short uniforms.
“We were taught how to handle weapons, including assembling and disassembling guns,” he said.
Local sources said that forced recruitment of Rohingya civilians, including minors, have been ongoing in the area, raising serious human rights concerns.
