Former Union Parishad Member Arrested in Bangladesh for Harboring ARA Group

News January 21, 2026

Former UP member Mustafa Kamal with seized items. (Photo credit: ABN)

A former member of the UP has been arrested by the Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) for harboring and storing military equipment belonging to the ARA group led by Nabi Hossain, according to reports.

The arrest took place at around 11:00 p.m. on January 16, when BGB personnel raided a house in the Lukhali area of Whykong Union, Teknaf Township, and detained Mustafa Kamal, a former UP member and Bangladeshi national.

During the search of his residence, BGB seized military uniforms used by the Nabi Hossain group, walkie-talkies, and a large quantity of other military-related equipment, sources said.

According to border security sources, the Nabi Hossain group is an armed gang that has been operating for many years along the Arakan–Bangladesh border, engaging in activities such as drug (yaba) trafficking, kidnappings, and human trafficking. Following recent intense clashes between the Arakan Army (AA), which controls much of Arakan State, and the Nabi Hossain group, members of the group reportedly abandoned their camps and fled across the border into Bangladesh.

The arrested suspect, Mustafa Kamal, had long been under suspicion for maintaining links with illegal armed groups operating along the border. He is now alleged to have acted as a host who secretly stored weapons and military equipment for members of the Nabi Hossain group.

The incident is seen as further evidence of strong networks and connections between Muslim armed groups operating along the Arakan border and certain local political figures in Bangladesh, sources noted.

BGB confirmed that a case has been filed against the suspect at the Teknaf Township Police Station, and investigations are ongoing to identify and arrest other individuals linked to the case.

Meanwhile, Nabi Hossain himself, despite being wanted by the Bangladesh government with a reward offered for his arrest, is reportedly still in hiding in the border areas, allegedly with the assistance of some local authorities.

Source@arakanbaynews