Rohingya men shot after return from Bangladesh, two missing

NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar (MNTV) — Two Rohingya men remain missing and another has been detained after fighters from the Arakan Army opened fire on three civilians who had just been returned from Bangladesh, according to local residents in western Myanmar.

The three men, all from Tharaik Oak village in Maungdaw Township, had traveled to Bangladesh for medical treatment using permission letters issued by the Arakan Army, which controls large parts of Rakhine State. 

Local sources said the men were detained by Bangladesh’s Border Guard while crossing the Naf River on March 22 and later sent back to Burma near an Arakan Army camp.

Residents reported that shortly after their return, gunfire erupted near the Chaungwa camp as the men were heading back to their village. The shooting lasted around 10 minutes, according to witnesses.

During the incident, one of the men — identified as 26-year-old Halaya — was detained by Arakan Army members. The other two men fled during the gunfire and remain missing. No bodies have been recovered, and their fate remains unknown, raising fears within the Rohingya community.

The incident underscores growing insecurity in northern Rakhine State, where Rohingya civilians remain caught between armed groups, military activity, and strict movement restrictions. Many Rohingya residents must travel outside their villages for medical care due to limited healthcare infrastructure in the region.

Cross-border travel to Bangladesh has become increasingly common among Rohingya communities seeking treatment, food, or family contact, despite security risks and tight controls along the border.

Human rights organizations have repeatedly warned that Rohingya civilians in Rakhine State face severe movement restrictions, limited access to healthcare, and heightened vulnerability amid ongoing conflict between the Arakan Army and Myanmar’s military.

The latest incident has triggered concern among local residents, particularly those who rely on cross-border travel for urgent medical needs, as fears grow that similar incidents could further restrict already limited mobility for Rohingya civilians in the area.