Just 15 years after its founding, the Arakan Army (AA) has risen to dominate Rakhine state in western Myanmar, controlling 15 of 17 key townships and over 90% of the territory, including the entire 271-kilometer border with Bangladesh.
These military advances include the historic capture of Ann township’s Western Regional Command headquarters, cementing the AA’s military and administrative dominance.
Through its Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government (APRG), the AA governs key sectors of Rakhine state, from judiciary to public health, signaling its ambition for greater autonomy with confederate status.
With Rakhine’s strategic location, natural resources and proximity to China-backed infrastructure, the AA’s rise reshapes the region’s geopolitical and security dynamics, presenting both opportunities and challenges for dialogue and stability.
In a remarkable show of resilience and strategy, the AA has established itself as the de facto governing authority in much of Rakhine State. The APRG has assumed roles previously held by the central authority, including administration, judiciary, and public services, underscoring the AA’s bid for legitimacy.
The AA’s rapid territorial expansion has intensified tensions with the Myanmar military. The military junta, struggling to maintain its grip on power, has exploited divisions within Rakhine by recruiting fighters from Rohingya armed groups such as the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army and the Rohingya Solidarity Organization.
These actions have deepened ethnic fault lines between the Rakhine Buddhist majority and the Rohingya Muslim minority, exacerbating mistrust and perpetuating cycles of violence.
While the AA has articulated a vision for inclusivity, particularly through the APRG’s administrative framework, building trust with marginalized communities—including the Rohingya—remains challenging.
The AA’s ability to foster dialogue and demonstrate inclusive governance will determine its success in achieving lasting stability in Rakhine.
Arakan Army Entered Into Bangladesh
Enter India and Bangladesh
As Rakhine’s immediate neighbors, India and Bangladesh have a critical role to play in shaping the region’s future. India’s strategic initiatives, such as the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project, aim to enhance connectivity between its northeastern states and Southeast Asia.
However, the AA’s territorial control poses both challenges and opportunities for New Delhi. Engaging with the AA directly could help India secure its infrastructure projects and foster regional trade.
Pragmatic collaboration would not only safeguard India’s investments but also strengthen its influence in Rakhine. Additionally, India’s engagement could serve as a counterbalance to China’s growing presence in the region.
For Bangladesh, the ongoing Rohingya crisis remains a pressing concern. Hosting over a million refugees has strained Dhaka’s resources and heightened domestic tensions.
By adopting a more flexible approach toward the AA, Bangladesh could explore new avenues for cooperation, such as establishing humanitarian corridors and addressing cross-border security issues. Dialogue with the AA could also pave the way for the voluntary and dignified repatriation of Rohingya refugees.
It’s being claimed that the Arakan Army attended a festival inside Bangladesh sans any resistance from Bangladeshi forces.
Now in a sharp rebuke, Mia Golam Parwar, Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and former Member of Parliament, has condemned a recent incursion by armed members of the Arakan Army into Bangladesh’s sovereign territory. The incident, which took place on April 16 and 17, 2025, in the Thanchi upazila of Bandarban district, has rattled many inside Bangladesh.
According to JeI, uniformed and armed members of the Arakan Army, a Myanmar-based insurgent group, crossed approximately 10 kilometers into Bangladeshi territory in the Remakri Mukh area of Tindu union. There, they organized a water festival alongside local indigenous communities. The event was not only a breach of Bangladesh’s borders but was also publicized through videos shared on social media by the Arakan Army. The United League of Arakan (ULA), the political wing of the Arakan Army, reportedly joined the celebrations with local residents.
“This blatant violation of our sovereignty is unacceptable,” Parwar declared. “By holding a public festival deep inside Bangladesh’s borders, the Arakan Army has shown utter disregard for our independence and territorial integrity.”
As per the Daily Observer, the incident has sparked widespread concern about Bangladesh’s border security. Parwar says that the intrusion poses a “serious threat” to the nation’s sovereignty, raising questions about the effectiveness of the government, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and the armed forces in preventing such a bold violation. “The nation rightfully demands answers: how was such a daring incursion possible?” he stated.
The public nature of the event, coupled with its documentation on social media, has intensified scrutiny of the mechanisms in place to safeguard Bangladesh’s borders, particularly in the sensitive Bandarban region a report in the Business standard says.
Bandarban, a hilly district in southeastern Bangladesh, shares a porous border with Myanmar’s Rakhine State, where the Arakan Army operates. This proximity makes the region vulnerable to cross-border activities, including insurgent movements and refugee flows. The Arakan Army, an ethnic Rakhine armed group, is engaged in a conflict with Myanmar’s military, seeking greater autonomy for Rakhine State. The group’s activities often spill over into neighboring Bangladesh, complicating bilateral relations and border security.
The rugged terrain and dense forests of Bandarban provide cover for such incursions, making it challenging for Bangladeshi authorities to monitor and secure the border effectively. The area is also home to indigenous communities, some of whom share cultural ties with ethnic groups across the border, which may have facilitated the Arakan Army’s engagement with locals during the festival.
Parwar’s condemnation reflects growing unease about the implications of such incidents for Bangladesh’s national security. The intrusion not only undermines the country’s territorial integrity but also highlights the need for stronger border surveillance and diplomatic measures to address cross-border violations by groups like the Arakan Army.
As Bangladesh grapples with securing its borders, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the complexities of maintaining sovereignty in a region marked by conflict and porous boundaries. The government is now under pressure to address these concerns and prevent future violations.reat to our national independence and sovereignty, and is deeply concerning.
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