AA accuses some Bangladeshi BGB officers of aiding armed Muslim groups, warns ties may strain without action

By Admin 28 Sep 2025

DMG Newsroom 
28 September 2025, Sittwe

The Arakan Army (AA) on September 27 called on Bangladesh to immediately investigate and take action against certain Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) officers allegedly involved with armed Muslim groups operating along the Maungdaw border area.

The AA warned that failure to act could undermine stability, security, and bilateral relations along the frontier, potentially escalating tensions between the two sides.

According to the AA, some BGB officers have been directly supporting and cooperating with armed Muslim groups, providing them with military and logistical assistance. These groups, it said, have even been allowed to establish strongholds near BGB outposts, from which they infiltrate into Arakan to conduct operations.

One Bangladesh affairs observer suggested Dhaka appears more focused on keeping international attention on the Rohingya Muslim refugee issue than on ensuring border stability.

“If you look at the speech delivered at the UN yesterday, it focused entirely on the Rohingya issue. This is because Bangladesh wants to keep global attention on it. If international attention declines, the millions in refugee aid that Bangladesh relies on would dry up,” the observer said.

The AA accused armed Muslim groups of infiltrating Maungdaw District via the Naf River and Mayu mountain routes, attacking AA security posts, killing civilians, abducting, torturing, extorting, and harassing locals in remote areas.

The AA said ARSA (Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army) fighters attacked Point 601 between border posts Nos. 56 and 57 in Maungdaw Township on September 16, but were repelled and the position remains under AA control.

On September 27 alone, at least 12 clashes occurred near Point 601, during which AA fighters reportedly seized some ARSA corpses, weapons, and ammunition.

The AA is currently fighting junta troops in Sittwe, Kyaukphyu, and three other adjoining areas of Arakan State. It said ARSA is taking advantage of the situation by collaborating with the junta to attack border security posts.

“The AA does not want to create problems with Bangladesh. Any revolutionary group faces difficulties if it has to fight both its own government and a neighboring country. The AA is under pressure but has shown an ability to overcome these challenges with resilience and strategy,” said a Karen youth military analyst.

The AA further warned that the renewed activity of ARSA and RSO (Rohingya Solidarity Organisation) armed Muslim groups along the Bangladesh–Arakan border threatens not only the security of local civilians, but also foreign investment and the safety of foreigners working in the region.

The AA therefore urged the international community to closely monitor the situation, and called on the Bangladeshi government to find solutions to ease tensions and strengthen cooperation along the border.