Armed Arakan Army Fighter Held in Ukhiya Sparks Border Security Concerns

Reading Time: 2 minutes Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) detained an armed member of the Arakan Army (AA) after he crossed into Bangladesh from Myanmar on 12 August 2025, raising fresh concerns over security along the volatile frontier. The detainee, identified as Jiban Tonchongya, 21, was intercepted at the Balukhali border outpost in Ukhiya. He was carrying an AK-47 rifle, two magazines, and 52 rounds of ammunition when he surrendered to BGB personnel, claiming he had fled Myanmar due to threats to his personal safety. BGB immediately disarmed the man and took him into custody before handing him over to Ukhiya Police. Officials confirmed he will face legal proceedings for illegal entry. The incident comes amid heightened tension along the Bangladesh–Myanmar border, following reports of heavy gunfire late Sunday night in the Ghumdhum area of Bandarban. The exchange of fire, believed to be between AA fighters and rival forces in Myanmar,