Bangladeshi authorities have arrested Ataullah Abu Ammar Jununi, the leader of ARSA (Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army) operating in Rakhine State, along with 10 other members. According to reports from Bangladesh, the suspects are being investigated for illegal border crossing and criminal activities. The arrests were made on March 16, and the authorities have obtained a 10-day remand to conduct their investigation.
Among those arrested were Mostak Ahmed, age 66, Salimullah, age 27, Asmatullah, age 24, Md Hasan, age 43, and Moniruzzaman, age 26. According to Bangladeshi authorities’ reports, the arrested individuals had been holding secret meetings to plan serious criminal activities. The ARSA group has been implicated in various criminal activities including murder, human trafficking, kidnapping, extortion, and other criminal operations. The authorities also noted that ARSA has been actively opposing the repatriation process of Rohingya people to Myanmar.
ARSA’s activities intensified following the assassination of Rohingya rights activist Mohib Ullah on September 29, 2022. Mohib Ullah had been a supporter of Rohingya repatriation efforts. While ARSA leader Ataullah denied any involvement in the killing, the victim’s family members have alleged that the armed group was behind the assassination. The incident marked a significant escalation in tensions within the refugee communities.
Furthermore, ARSA’s military chief Ataullah was previously named as a suspect, along with 65 others, in connection with the killing of a Bangladeshi military intelligence officer near the Bangladesh-Myanmar border in November 2022. The officer, Rizwan Rushdi, who served with DGFI (Directorate General of Forces Intelligence), was killed near the border area. The recent arrests represent a significant development in regional security efforts, according to Bangladeshi authorities, who continue to investigate the group’s activities and their implications for border security and refugee camp stability.
