Rohingya Refugee Alleges Myanmar Military Killed Brother’s Wife and Four Children During Escape from Sittwe

Photo: Collected

Arakan Now | 30 May 2026

Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh — A Rohingya refugee in Bangladesh has accused Myanmar military personnel of killing several members of his brother’s family during an attempted escape from Sittwe in May 2026, amid ongoing violence, movement restrictions, and reports of forced conscription in western Myanmar.

Nur Shaker, 29, originally from Rathedaung Township in Rakhine State, said his family had been displaced multiple times over the years due to conflict and insecurity.

According to Nur Shaker, his elder brother, Maung Hla Myint, previously worked with the World Food Programme and the French humanitarian organization GRET in Rathedaung, Buthidaung Township, and Maungdaw.

Following the 2017 military crackdown and mass displacement of Rohingya communities, Maung Hla Myint and his family fled Rathedaung and later settled in Moidaung village in Buthidaung Township, Nur Shaker said.

He said the family was displaced again in 2022 because of insecurity and conflict-related pressures. Seeking safety and medical treatment, they later moved to Sittwe.

Among them was Sheere La Myaint, also known as Aziz Tahara, the 21-year-old eldest daughter of Maung Hla Myint. According to her family, she had been receiving medical treatment in Sittwe while the family faced worsening humanitarian conditions, movement restrictions, and increasing pressure from authorities.

On May 23, 2026, the family attempted to travel by boat from Sittwe to Buthidaung.

Nur Shaker said Maung Hla Myint first placed his eldest daughter on the boat before returning to shore to bring his wife, children, and belongings. At that point, he alleged that Myanmar military personnel opened fire near the shoreline.

According to Nur Shaker, Maung Hla Myint managed to escape with his eldest daughter, while his wife and four younger children were killed.

“He escaped with his eldest daughter, but his wife and four children were killed,” Nur Shaker said.

He further alleged that one of the boys initially survived the shooting. According to information later relayed to the family by local sources, military personnel and Rohingya individuals allegedly working under forced conscription found the child still alive among the bodies.

“Some people wanted to take the child to safety,” Nur Shaker said. “But a commander allegedly ordered that the boy be shot.”

Arakan Now could not independently verify the allegations.

Nur Shaker said he himself moved from Buthidaung to Sittwe in 2023 before fleeing to Bangladesh in May 2025 with seven relatives, including his wife, mother, sister, and nephew. He described severe shortages of food, humanitarian assistance, and basic necessities in Sittwe, saying conditions for Rohingya civilians had steadily deteriorated.

Now living in Cox’s Bazar, he is calling for accountability and an international investigation into the deaths.

“We seek justice for my brother, his wife, and his children,” Nur Shaker said. “We call on the international community, human rights organizations, the United Nations, the ICC, and the ICJ to investigate these crimes committed against Rohingya civilians.”

The Myanmar military has repeatedly been accused by United Nations investigators and international human rights organizations of committing serious abuses against Rohingya communities in Rakhine State, including killings, forced displacement, and other violations of international law. Myanmar authorities have denied many allegations of wrongdoing.