According to reports from Bangladesh, authorities have arrested ARSA (Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army) leader Ataullah Abu Ammar Jununi and 10 other members who had been operating in Rakhine State. The arrests took place on March 16, and the suspects are being investigated for illegal border crossing and criminal activities. The authorities have obtained a 10-day remand to conduct their investigation into these matters.
Among those arrested were Mostak Ahmed, age 66, Salimullah, age 27, Asmatullah, age 24, Md Hasan, age 43, and Moniruzzaman, age 26. According to the Bangladesh authorities’ report, the arrested individuals had been conducting secret meetings and planning serious criminal activities. The investigation revealed that ARSA has been involved in various criminal activities including murder, human trafficking, kidnapping, extortion, and other serious crimes. The group has also 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 prominent supporter of the Rohingya repatriation process. While his family members accused ARSA of being behind his murder, ARSA leader Ataullah denied any involvement of the armed group in the killing. Additionally, in November 2022, Ataullah was named as a suspect along with 65 others in connection with the killing of a Bangladesh government DGFI officer, Rizwan Rushdee, near the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.
The Bangladesh authorities’ investigation has uncovered that ARSA has been conducting clandestine meetings to plan violent criminal activities and has been actively working to disrupt the process of Rohingya repatriation to Myanmar. The arrest of these individuals represents a significant development in the ongoing efforts to address security concerns in the border region and the broader issues affecting the Rohingya refugee population. The case has drawn attention to the complex challenges facing both Bangladesh and Myanmar in managing border security and addressing the needs of displaced populations.
