Bangladeshi social media accounts express shock as news of Arakan Army marched into Bangladesh, as per Jamaat E Islami/JeI. Its being claimed that 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 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 the challenges of 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.