Arakan Army seizes Myanmar junta's last stronghold in area bordering Bangladesh

Myanmar insurgent group Arakan Army (AA) has taken complete control of the country's 270-kilometer-long border with Bangladesh after seizing Maungdaw Township yesterday (8 December), reports The Irrawaddy.

The ethnic army reported that it captured the junta's last remaining border stronghold, Border Guard Police Battalion No-5, located outside Maungdaw town, yesterday morning after several months of fighting.

Speaking to The Business Standard in this regard, Colonel Shariful Islam, deputy director of the media wing of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) headquarters, said, "Our members are vigilant and there has been no impact on Bangladesh."

Meanwhile, in a statement issued today (9 December), the BGB said it has intensified patrols in the border areas along the Naf River.

"The BGB is conducting patrols on water and land 24 hours a day to ensure seamless security at the border. The BGB is also on high alert to deal with any situation at the border," reads the statement signed by Major Mohammad Ishtiaq Murshed, acting commander of BGB Teknaf-2 Battalion.

Yesterday, the AA stated that it was attacking the junta regime and allied Rohingya militia from the Arakan Rohingya Army (ARA), Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) and Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO) as they fled the base.

Rakhine media reported today that the AA arrested Brigadier General Thurein Tun, commander of Military Operation Command 15, along with regime troops including about 80 Rohingya insurgents, following the battle for Maungdaw.

The ethnic army launched the Maungdaw offensive in late May, taking six months to gain complete control of the township.

According to The Irrawaddy report, the AA now claims control of all three Myanmar townships bordering Bangladesh – Maungdaw and Buthidaung in Rakhine State and Chin State's Paletwa, which also borders India.

A military analyst monitoring the fighting in Rakhine said restoring trade with Bangladesh would help ease the plight of people living in the western state.

Two million people in Rakhine face looming famine, the UN reported last month.

The junta has blockaded roads and waterways leading to the state, blocking deliveries of food, fuel and medicine, including international humanitarian aid.

The analyst added that the Bangladesh government must engage in meaningful dialogue with the ethnic army if it wanted to solve the complex Rohingya issue in Rakhine State.

The AA is now fighting for control of Gwa, Taungup and Ann townships in southern Rakhine.

AA troops have seized most of Ann town along with over 30 junta strongholds and bases, with only the regime's Western Military Command Headquarters left to be defeated.

The ethnic army stated it has also taken effective control of Taungup town, with only one regime stronghold left standing outside the town.

The AA is a member of the ethnic Brotherhood Alliance, which has seized most of northern Shan State including the capital Lashio since launching Operation 1027 in October last year.

The AA expanded the operation to its home state in November last year and has captured around 13 of Rakhine State's 17 townships and Paletwa Township in neighboring Chin State.