Indigenous communities in Chittagong Hill Tracts struggle amid ARSA threats

By Admin 23 Feb 2026

DMG Newsroom

23 February 2026, Maungdaw

Indigenous communities in Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts say they are facing serious threats to their security and livelihoods due to the activities of Muslim armed groups, including the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) and the Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO), according to local sources.

The Chittagong Hill Tracts are home to indigenous groups such as the Arakanese, Thet, Mro, Chakma and Maramar, who depend on forests and mountainous areas for their livelihoods.

Residents say the armed groups pose ongoing threats through killings, sexual violence against women, and kidnappings for ransom.

“There are people who go out to herd cattle and never return. When we go to search for them, we are warned not to come any closer. If someone doesn’t return within a week, the family has to assume the worst and hold a funeral service. Women also face harassment while foraging for fish and vegetables, making it impossible to sustain our livelihoods,” said a local man in the Chittagong area.

Due to security concerns, indigenous residents say they are increasingly unable to carry out their daily work, creating a serious survival crisis.

Despite the reported threats, locals claim that action taken by the authorities against the armed groups has been limited, leaving communities to remain constantly vigilant for their safety.

Residents also allege that Bangladesh authorities have restricted information about the activities of Muslim armed groups in the region, which they say undermines freedom of expression.

“Ethnic Chakma people work on upland farms and orchards. Many have disappeared after being captured by ARSA while travelling, and there are cases of rape. Because Bangladesh imposes news blackouts on these incidents, information cannot be released without permission. There is also discrimination against ethnic groups in other workplaces,” said an Arakanese man in Bangladesh.

On November 25, 2025, 10 ARSA members reportedly detained and gang-raped three ethnic Daingnet women in Naikhongchhari Township, Bandarban District, in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

Following the formation of a new government by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) after the recent election in Bangladesh, Arakanese sub-groups in the hill tracts say they hope for improved regional stability and better living conditions.