Bangladesh Jails 52 ARSA/ARA Terrorists Who Fled into the Country During The Border Clashes

News January 14, 2026

In Rakhine State, during the ongoing clashes between the Arakan Army (AA) and the Muslim terrorist group ARSA, 52 armed Muslim terrorists who fled after being defeated crossed into Bangladesh and were jailed yesterday, according to a report in The Daily Star, a Bangladeshi news outlet, on January 13.

Teknaf Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Saiful Islam confirmed on the afternoon of January 13 that these 52 ARSA members were arrested for illegally entering Bangladesh.

They were produced in the Cox's Bazar District and Local Court in the afternoon of Tuesday, and following the court's order, they were sent to prison, OC Saiful Islam stated.

Among the arrested individuals, one person was severely injured and is receiving treatment at Cox's Bazar Medical College Hospital, so he could not be brought to court.

According to sources at Teknaf Police Station, these individuals fled after being defeated in the ongoing clashes with the Arakan Army in Rakhine State. A total of 57 armed Muslim terrorists crossed the Naf River and entered Bangladesh, and they were arrested by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) during operations along the border on January 11.

Later, the BGB handed them over to Teknaf Police Station, where legal action was taken against them.

"The arrested individuals are confirmed members of terrorist armed groups who illegally crossed the border and entered the country, so we are taking legal action against them accordingly," said OC Saiful Islam of Teknaf Police Station.

Among the arrested, they are members of ARSA, ARA, and Rohingya Islami Mahaz groups. After investigation, the police released 2 Bangladeshi citizens who had gone fishing in the Naf River and were not directly involved in the illegal entry, along with 4 innocent people.

The remaining 53 individuals were found with strong evidence of illegal entry, so legal action was taken against them.

These 52 individuals were charged by Nayek Charwarul Mostafa, a senior constable from the BGB Battalion No. 64 based in Ukhiya, under the 1947 Control of Entry Act (illegal entry law), and the case was filed at Teknaf Police Station on the night of January 11.

source@arakanbaynews