AB News – May 19, 2024
Maungdaw, Arakan-Bangladesh Border – In Maungdaw township, only one major military post and five Border Guard Police forces of the State Administration Council (SAC) remain under SAC control, all of which are currently besieged by the Arakan Army.
The military installations under siege are:
- Myo Thu Gyi Na-Kha-Kha (5) Police Battalion near the town of Maungdaw
- 4-Mile Na-Kha-Kha on Maungdaw-Buthidaung Road
- Mawrawaddy Byuhar (ROC)
- Alay Than Kyaw Post
- Inn Din Na-Kha-Kha (6)
- Myin Hlut Na-Kha-Kha (9)
Additionally, soldiers from the Kyauk Pan Du and Inn Din posts have reportedly joined forces. However, it is unclear whether they have fled or remain at their posts.
Since the beginning of May, fighting between the Arakan Army and the SAC has intensified. All SAC military posts in northern Maungdaw have been captured by the Arakan Army. Under the Border Guard Police No. (1) command in Maungdaw, there were 11 areas, subdivided into 11 offices, 12 police forces, 95 surveillance posts, 27 river guard posts, and 27 border fence posts, totaling 157. These forces operated along the nearly 200-mile-long Arakan-Bangladesh border, from the mouth of the Naf River to the northernmost point where the borders of Arakan, Bangladesh, and India converge.
Earlier this month, on May 3, the Arakan Army seized the Kyee Kan Pyin Headquarters and Hla Phoe Khaung Na-Kha-Kha (10) of the SAC. Similarly, on April 30 and April 14, the Microtower Camp on Maungdaw-Buthidaung Road and Khamaung Seit ROC were captured, as well as Krein Chaung ROC in northern Maungdaw on April 12. The Taungbro Layar Border Guard Post was taken on February 4, and Taungbro Lawei town on February 6.
Due to the Arakan Army’s offensives, approximately 800 SAC soldiers from various military outposts have fled to Bangladesh. In response, the remaining SAC soldiers from Na-Kha-Kha (5) and militant Bengali Muslims demolished four bridges using explosives. They also raided and torched Weithali Ward in Maungdaw at around 1:40 a.m. on May 7, killing a woman. On May 9, more than 50 homes in Shwe Yin Aye village, Maungdaw township, were set ablaze.
Local residents report that the Arakan Army is fiercely attacking the 4-Mile Na-Kha-Kha (2) and Mawrawaddy ROC with overwhelming force. The SAC is defending these positions with ground and naval artillery, as well as aerial bombardments, to maintain control of the border town of Maungdaw. Due to SAC’s artillery and aerial attacks on civilian targets, four villagers were killed and six were seriously injured in Kin Chaung village recently. Civilians continue to suffer casualties from ongoing artillery and aerial assaults by the SAC.