Bangladesh authorities have arrested Ataullah Abu Ammar Jununi, the leader of ARSA (Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army) operating in Rakhine State, along with nine other members on March 16. The suspects are being investigated for illegal border crossing and criminal activities, according to Bangladeshi media reports. The authorities have obtained a 10-day remand to conduct their investigation into the arrested individuals.
Among those arrested are Mostak Ahmed, age 66, Salimullah, age 27, Asmatullah, age 24, Md Hasan, age 43, and Moniruzzaman, age 26. According to the investigation report from Bangladesh authorities, the suspects had been conducting secret meetings to plan serious criminal activities. The report indicates that ARSA has been involved in various criminal activities including murder, human trafficking, kidnapping, extortion, and actively opposing the repatriation process of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar.
Suspicions about ARSA’s activities intensified following the September 2022 assassination of Mohib Ullah, a prominent Rohingya rights activist who had supported the repatriation of Rohingya people to Myanmar. While Mohib Ullah’s family members pointed to ARSA’s involvement in the killing, ARSA leader Ataullah denied any connection to the assassination. The group’s activities have reportedly escalated since Mohib Ullah’s death, who was known for his advocacy of Rohingya repatriation efforts.
Furthermore, ARSA’s military chief Ataullah was named as a suspect along with 65 others in connection with the killing of a Bangladesh army DGFI officer, Rizwan Rushdee, near the Bangladesh-Myanmar border in November 2022. The officer was found dead in the border area while serving with the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI). Bangladesh authorities consider this recent arrest a significant achievement for regional security and are continuing their investigation into the group’s activities and connections to various criminal operations in the border region.
