Arakan Army Enters 10 Km Inside Bangladesh, Sparks Fear of Internal Division

Myanmar's Arakan Army has infiltrated 10 km inside Bangladesh. During this time it did not face any resistance from the Bangladesh Army. As soon as this news came out, there was a stir in Bangladesh. Questions are being raised in political circles on the infiltration of Arakan Army.

Dhaka: A news related to Myanmar's ethnic militant organization Arakan Army has created a stir in Bangladesh's political circles. It is being claimed that the Arakan Army, which captured Rakhine province after fighting with Myanmar's military regime, came 10 km inside Bangladesh and participated in a ceremony. During this time it did not face any resistance from the Bangladeshi Army. Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami's general secretary and former MP Mia Ghulam Parwar has condemned this infiltration of Arakan Army.

The news of Arakan Army entering Bangladesh has come at a time when the Bangladeshi army is preparing for a campaign in Myanmar under the US plan. The incident of Arakan Army's infiltration in Bangladesh recently took place in Thanchi Upazila of Bandarban district on 16 and 17 April. Bangladesh's social media accounts have expressed surprise at this incident. The special thing is that the members of the Arakan Army came inside with their military uniforms and weapons.

Entered 10 km inside Bangladesh

According to Jamaat-e-Islami, uniformed and armed members of Myanmar-based insurgent group Arakan Army entered about 10 km inside Bangladeshi territory. There, they organized a water festival in collaboration with local indigenous communities. The Arakan Army also promoted it by sharing videos on social media. The United League of Arakan (ULA), the political wing of the Arakan Army, reportedly joined the celebrations along with local residents.

Protests in Bangladesh over infiltration

Parwar has described the Arakan Army's infiltration as a blatant violation of Bangladesh's sovereignty. The incident has sparked widespread concern about Bangladesh's border security. Parwar says the infiltration is a serious threat to the country's sovereignty, raising questions about the government, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the armed forces. He said, 'The country is demanding answers - how was such a daring infiltration possible?'

Where did the Arakan Army infiltrate?

The Arakan Army has infiltrated the Bandarban area, a hilly district in southeastern Bangladesh. The area shares a border with Myanmar's Rakhine state. The Arakan Army occupies almost the entire part of Rakhine except three cities, including the port city of Sittwe. The Arakan Army is an ethnic group waging an armed struggle against the Myanmar military for autonomy for Rakhine State.